For over two decades, U.S. forces operated in permissive environments where the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) was uncontested. That era is over. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Gen. Dan Caine recently stated in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, the U.S. military’s electronic warfare (EW) enterprise is not adequately protected from modern electromagnetic attack. Training has not kept pace, simulators are insufficient, and existing ranges fall short of the fidelity and complexity needed to face near-peer adversaries.
This stark reality presents both a challenge and a strategic opportunity for the U.S. to gain spectrum superiority.
As Caine rightly noted, “The Joint Force has lost some muscle memory defending against electromagnetic attack.” That muscle needs to be rebuilt—not in theory, but in real-world operations, classrooms, and emerging mission scenarios.
From foundational instruction to advanced field exercises training, programs need to restore and elevate the skills needed to compete and win in a contested EMS environment. These can’t be abstract lessons—but integrated, scenario-driven training modules that reflect the complexity, speed, and intensity of the modern battlefield.
Live Training with Real Threat Context
The Pentagon has acknowledged that live-range EW exercises are lagging. What’s needed? Bring the fight to the training. Large-scale, live field exercises that blend traditional EW with cyber effects and spectrum awareness operations. This includes the replication of the threat conditions operators will most likely face—from GPS-denied environments to aggressive jamming and spoofing—using tools that emphasize decision-making under pressure.
Training can’t be siloed and needs to be operationally relevant across domains to give warfighters the confidence to operate in real-time EMS-contested scenarios.
Bridging Simulation and Live Ranges
Caine emphasized that current simulators “lack sufficient capacity” and “fail to provide the fidelity” needed to develop joint EW concepts. Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) training that integrates real-world signals with virtual threats and constructive scenarios is critical. This hybrid approach allows units to train at scale without sacrificing realism or security.
Systems need to be designed to plug into existing simulation environments and to be operated stand alone in ad hoc exercise scenarios as part of large force training. Mobile and expeditionary EW training environments need to be supported, bringing high-fidelity simulation capabilities wherever they are needed.
Next-Generation Training
True readiness requires more than just exposure—it demands persistent situational awareness. Technology needs to sit along with training to deliver enhanced situational awareness in multidomain environments that empower operators with real-time visualization of the electromagnetic environment. Technology needs to inform tactical decisions and mission execution.
Accelerating Joint Force Modernization
The Department of Defense is investing heavily in EW modernization—but acquisition cycles are long, and capability gaps persist. Flexible contracting models, including use of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) pathways, are needed to deliver rapidly deployable, mission-focused solutions to frontline units.
The Path Forward: Training for Spectrum Superiority
Spectrum superiority is not a platform–it’s a mindset. It starts with realistic training, continues with live-exercise support, and culminates in tactical tools that give operators dominance in the fight.
At Knowmadics, we echo CJCS Caine’s call to action: the time to reinvest in EW training and simulation is now. The spectrum is not a safe haven–it’s a battlespace. Knowmadics is here to ensure America’s warfighters are trained, equipped, and ready to win in it.
