The US Army has asked industry for feedback on a planned contract to speed procurement and sustainment of commercially sourced electromagnetic warfare (EW) and signals intelligence equipment.
In a request for information issued last week, the service said it is exploring a multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (MA-IDIQ) approach to supply end‑to‑end lifecycle products for its Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations portfolio.
The move follows concerns that existing acquisition and fielding models have struggled to meet diverse, mission‑specific requirements across formations, including heavy, light, and airborne units.
Industry respondents are asked to comment on the army’s draft Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Characteristics of Need document and provide input on how a commercial MA-IDIQ could be structured.
Questions focus on contracting approaches, sustainment models, and whether multi‑year procurement contracts could encourage vendors to increase production quantities or improve production schedules for EW and SIGINT equipment.
US Electromagnetic Warfare Modernization Steps
The army’s initiative builds on broader US efforts to modernize EW across multiple services.
In 2025, the Naval Research Lab awarded I2X Technologies a $243-million contract for EW support, providing modeling, simulation, and testing tools for advanced electronic warfare systems.
Earlier that year, the army’s Capability Program Executive for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors launched a commercial solutions opening to rapidly integrate modular EW payloads and vehicle-mounted EW kits.
L3Harris also secured a multiyear contract in 2024 for Next Generation Jammer-Low Band pods, reinforcing the navy’s investment in tactical electronic attack systems.
Additionally, army updates in 2025 detailed modular and rapidly fielded EW systems at the brigade level and above, emphasizing open architecture, rapid prototyping, and scalable solutions for modern battlefields.
