The Electromagnetic Spectrum: A Silent Battlefield and a Key Asset for Modern Communications

In today’s digital era, communications are essential to nearly every aspect of our lives—from personal interactions to productive, business and defense operations. But have we ever stopped to consider the medium through which most of this information travels? We’re talking about the electromagnetic spectrum, a fundamental concept that is increasingly relevant in our connected world.

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

Simply put, the electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Picture a vast band that includes everything from the radio waves we tune into in our car radios or use in mobile phones, to infrared radiation (heat), visible light that allows us to see the world around us, all the way to powerful ultraviolet radiation, X-rays used in medicine, and gamma rays, which have the shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies.

Each portion of the spectrum has different properties in terms of energy, frequency, and wavelength. For example, gamma rays are high-energy and highly penetrating, while radio waves have much longer wavelengths, ranging from centimeters to thousands of kilometers. These longer waves are essential for modern communications such as TV, radio, and mobile phones. Visible light is the small part detectable by the human eye, covering the colors from blue (higher energy) to red (lower energy).

In the context of communications, the focus is especially on portions like radio waves, microwaves (which fall between infrared and radio waves), and even parts of the visible spectrum, as in fiber optics or laser communications. This spectrum is the medium through which wireless signals, mobile data, and television transmissions travel.

A Critical and Increasingly Contested Battlefield

If the electromagnetic spectrum is essential for communications and critical systems, it naturally becomes a strategic target. In the current geopolitical landscape, marked by conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, it has become clear that the spectrum is a key domain in modern operational environments. It is no longer just a communication medium; it is a true battlefield, as critical as land, sea, air, or space.

In this domain, a “clash of invisible forces” takes place—forces that can drastically affect the outcomes of conflicts. Electronic Warfare (EW) encompasses all strategies and technologies aimed at exploiting the spectrum: denying its use to the enemy while ensuring unrestricted access for friendly forces.

The threats in this “silent battlefield” are diverse and constantly evolving. The spectrum suffers from congestion, complicating the transmission and reception of signals. Moreover, the blurred lines between civilian and military technologies—such as 5G networks or connected devices—multiply the risks, as these can become vectors for threats or operational interference.

Electronic attacks, also known as Electronic Attack (EA) or Electronic Countermeasures (ECM), aim to degrade, neutralize, or destroy the enemy’s capabilities. Some of the most common techniques include:

• Jamming: Flooding enemy receivers with radiofrequency signals to impair or prevent communications, radar use, or navigation systems.
• Spoofing: Sending false signals to deceive or mislead enemy electronic systems. For instance, GPS (or GNSS) spoofing makes a target believe it is in a different location than it actually is.

We’ve seen examples of these tactics in recent conflicts. In the war in Ukraine, Russia has attempted to jam GPS signals used by Ukraine to guide munitions. Conversely, Ukraine has combined attack drones with electronic warfare units to interfere with Russian drone signals, “blinding” them and enabling the advance of ground troops. These cases show how control over the spectrum can have direct consequences on the battlefield.

The rapid evolution of these threats, the cybersecurity vulnerabilities associated with the spectrum, and the continuous development of countermeasures by adversaries pose ongoing challenges for the security and operation of critical networks and systems. Traditional electronic warfare systems, often complex and centralized, are no longer agile enough to meet the demands of this dynamic environment. More flexible, modular, adaptable, and quickly deployable solutions are needed.

Protecting our access to and use of the electromagnetic spectrum against interference and attacks is a top priority in this modern context. Ensuring the safety and integrity of the services that rely on it—including those essential to the civilian population—is critical.

Gradiant’s Prophet: An Innovative Solution for Spectrum Protection

Given the rising threats and the pressing need to safeguard such a vital domain as the electromagnetic spectrum, advanced detection and monitoring systems are essential for anticipating and countering attacks.

In this context, Gradiant is developing Prophet, a cutting-edge technology specifically designed for the detection and monitoring of threats within the electromagnetic spectrum. This solution directly addresses the need for tools capable of operating effectively in demanding and changing environments.

What makes Prophet an essential tool for spectrum protection?

Prophet is built around capabilities that provide the situational awareness and intelligence needed to ensure the operability and security of systems that depend on the spectrum:

• Threat Detection and Monitoring: Prophet can identify signals that indicate electronic attacks, unwanted interference, or other anomalous activity. This aligns with the Electronic Support (ES) pillar and delivers critical situational intelligence.
• Identification of Unauthorized Use: The system detects illegitimate uses of the spectrum, which is vital for efficient spectrum management and to prevent intrusions or malicious manipulation.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Designed with a modular approach, Prophet can adapt to different operational needs and environments, overcoming the limitations of traditional systems that require highly specialized personnel or lack agility.
• Versatile Applications: Prophet is applicable in both Defense and Telecommunications contexts—especially relevant given the increasing overlap between civilian and military technologies.
• Integration into Modern Architectures: Prophet can be effectively integrated into contemporary communication infrastructures, enhancing system resilience and enabling rapid, coordinated responses to detected threats.

In short, Gradiant’s Prophet is an advanced technological response to today’s electromagnetic spectrum security challenges. With sophisticated detection, monitoring, and protection capabilities, it positions itself as an essential tool to ensure the operability and safety of critical systems in a domain that is undoubtedly becoming the silent battlefield of the future.

This publication is part of the PROPHET project, funded by the European Union NextGeneration-EU and PRTR through INCIBE.

The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.