The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has unveiled the Digital RF Battlespace Emulator (DRBE), a high-fidelity, real-time virtual radio frequency (RF) test range that promises to revolutionise electronic warfare (EW) training and development. Announced on 12 August 2025, the DRBE system is designed to simulate complex RF engagements with ultra-low latency, a critical requirement for modern EW tactics.
Unlike conventional modeling and open-air testing, the DRBE system allows for the simultaneous interaction of synthetic RF entities within a software-defined environment. This capability enables the testing and training of AI-enabled EW systems and accelerates the development of next-generation RF technologies. The first DRBE system is set to transition to a US Navy laboratory by the end of 2025, where it will be integrated into the Department of Defense’s testing and evaluation infrastructure.
“Not only are companies coming out with new hardware constantly, but as much of the ‘fighting’ is software-side, changes in this regard can be made even faster,” observed James Marques, a defence analyst at GlobalData. “Presumably, [the DRBE system] will require a lot of computer processing power. The ability to replicate complex electronic environments in that way will probably have big implications for defence technology development going forward across the board wherever software is concerned.”
The DRBE system’s ability to emulate the electromagnetic (EM) environment is particularly relevant as operations in this domain become increasingly critical. The spectrum, which comprises the distribution of electromagnetic energy across a full range of frequencies, is a battleground where modern militaries must operate with precision and agility. The DRBE system’s ultra-low latency and high-fidelity simulation capabilities provide a new tool for testing and training in this complex environment.
The evolution of digitised battlefield technologies, such as tactical communications, command-and-control networks, and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), has created new challenges and opportunities for EW technology. Novel applications like EW-based Counter-UAS systems are emerging, such as the British Army’s RF-directed energy weapon. This system offers a cost-effective, non-kinetic solution for countering UAS at a range of one kilometre, complementing traditional missile-based air defence.
Meanwhile, Russian EW operations against Ukraine have highlighted the strategic importance of investing in and innovating EW capabilities. The comparative lack of investment and innovation in Western EW systems has enabled Russia to gain a strategic advantage. Jonathon Birch, another defence analyst at GlobalData, noted that Ukraine’s inability to counter Russian fibre optic first-person view drones, which operate outside the EM spectrum, was seminal in their forced withdrawal from the Kursk region of Russia.
Similarly, reports of China’s new ‘Storm Eye’ system underscore the growing complexity of the EW battlespace. The Storm Eye system utilises a pair of drones operating with corresponding jamming and counter-signalling frequencies to produce a neutralised area of electronic activity, protecting assets from enemy jamming.
“This timely example illustrates the importance of DARPA’s emulator in replicating the ever-increasing complexity of the EW battlespace,” Birch emphasised. “With growing geopolitical tension and an emphasis on military supremacy, EW refinement will remain a priority.”
As militaries around the world grapple with the challenges of operating in an increasingly contested EM environment, the DRBE system offers a powerful new tool for testing and training. Its ability to simulate complex RF engagements with ultra-low latency and high fidelity will be critical in developing the next generation of EW capabilities. The DRBE system’s integration into the Department of Defense’s testing and evaluation infrastructure marks a significant step forward in the evolution of EW technology and underscores the importance of investing in and innovating in this critical domain.
