Army awards prototype for spectrum sensing and visualization tool

The Army awarded 3dB Labs an other transaction agreement to develop and demonstrate a prototype for the Spectrum Situational Awareness System (S2AS), according to a release.

S2AS is envisioned to provide sensing and visualization of what units look like in the electromagnetic spectrum and allow commanders to be able to sense and report in real-time their command post signatures, sources of electromagnetic interference — either from coalition partners or the enemy — and threat emissions. Army officials see this as an important capability for operations in a complex future environment where forces will have to adeptly maneuver within the invisible electromagnetic spectrum.

“Modernizing spectrum awareness capabilities will enhance commanders’ ability to visualize and control the electromagnetic environment, enabling more effective decision making and improving protection to win the fight for spectrum dominance,” Maj. Cedric Harris, assistant product manager for Product Manager Electronic Warfare Integration at program executive office for intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors, said in a statement.

Under the agreement, 3dB Labs was awarded a little over $6 million for a 14-month period of performance.

“S2AS directly enhances the survivability and effectiveness of our soldiers on the battlefield,” Ken Strayer, project manager for electronic warfare and cyber at PEO IEW&S, said in a statement. “By integrating feedback from Transformation in Contact (TiC) units, including Electronic Warfare Soldiers and Spectrum Managers, we’re ensuring the system is specifically tailored to meet their operational needs.”

Transforming-in-contact refers to a key initiative of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to use deployments and troop rotations to test new equipment — mainly commercial off-the-shelf gear — that could allow units to be more responsive on a dynamic battlefield. The effort is initially focused on unmanned aerial systems, counter-UAS and electronic warfare. It will inform how the service purchases and employs emerging capabilities and also provide insights for force structure changes.

The program office has previously stated that the S2AS prototype will participate in a unit exercise in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 as part of transforming-in-contact.

S2AS was always designed to be largely a commercial-off-the-shelf system. Over the past several years, commercial technology has improved such that the Army and other services have been able to purchase relatively mature electromagnetic spectrum solutions as opposed to building their own through onerous bidding, proposal and traditional acquisition processes with industry.

The Army said the system is designed for both local and self-protection applications and will be deployed in handheld and vehicle adaptable configurations to meet a variety of mission requirements.

Final procurement quantities and equipping distributions for S2AS will be informed by planned demonstration and testing events.

An operational demo is planned for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, which will support a potential rapid fielding decision in the second quarter of that fiscal year.

Efforts in fiscal 2025 for S2AS include initial delivery of prototype systems, vehicle and network integration, cybersecurity accreditation, testing and logistical support.