4 SIGINT Trends You Need To Be Aware Of
By John Oncea, Editor
SIGINT is evolving rapidly, with trends in AI-powered EW, advanced jamming, phased array/MIMO radar, and jam-resistant communications reshaping RF intelligence.
Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is an umbrella term for intelligence derived from intercepted electromagnetic signals, encompassing both communications intelligence (COMINT) – a specific type of SIGINT that focuses on intelligence derived from intercepted communications, such as voice, data, and other forms of electronic messaging – and electronic warfare (EW) – a broader military concept that encompasses any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Essentially, SIGINT is the overarching category, EW is the action taken within the electromagnetic spectrum, and COMINT is a specific type of SIGINT focused on communications. However you define it, SIGINT – and by extension COMINT and EW – is a technology needed to provide technical and geolocation intelligence derived from foreign noncommunications electromagnetic radiations emanating from sources other than nuclear detonations or radioactive sources.
It is also constantly evolving, and here we look at four current trends at the forefront of that evolution.
Cognitive And AI-Enhanced EW Systems
Recent advances in machine learning and cognitive RF technologies are revolutionizing electronic warfare (EW) systems, equipping them with the capability to sense, analyze, and adapt to contested spectrum environments in real time. These systems leverage deep learning algorithms to classify incoming RF signals, identify emitters, and dynamically respond to new or rapidly evolving threats. For example, cognitive EW platforms can autonomously adjust their signal detection parameters, enabling discovery and tracking of previously unseen signal types within dense and unpredictable environments, a necessity given the proliferation of agile, LPI (low-probability-of-intercept) emitters.
An important aspect of this trend is the integration of data from multiple RF sensors, which provides a richer, fused situational awareness for both automated and human decision makers, according to Flyeye.io. Utilizing enormous training datasets, AI-enhanced systems now surpass traditional rule-based algorithms in their ability to distinguish between friend and foe as well as to anticipate potential deception and spoofing attempts. As conflicts shift toward multi-domain operations, these capabilities allow for real-time reconfiguration of EW assets, which is critical for both offensive jamming and defensive spectrum protection, the American Public University writes.
Government research organizations and defense agencies underscore the pressing need for these adaptive platforms in response to adversaries who are themselves employing increasingly sophisticated signal obfuscation and deception. Recent publications by U.S. academic and governmental institutions highlight that AI-driven SIGINT is currently at the frontier of military electronics research, with ongoing efforts to reduce the cognitive load on operators while boosting the ability to autonomously make sense of voluminous, ambiguous, or deliberately misleading electronic emissions.
Advanced RF Jamming Techniques
RF jamming approaches are undergoing dramatic changes, transitioning from fixed-frequency barrage jammers to agile, smart systems capable of disrupting or deceiving even the most robust communication links. One innovative method involves the use of digital RF memory (DRFM) technology, where jammers capture adversary signals in real time, manipulate or replay the waveforms with subtle modifications, and retransmit them to flood enemy sensors with false tracks or to mask friendly operations. Such deception jamming is increasingly critical in denying adversaries access to situational awareness tools such as radar and missile guidance systems.
Equally significant is the proliferation of wideband, multi-beam phased array jammers. These leverage electronically steerable antennas and digital backends to simultaneously attack multiple frequency bands and directions, a tactic essential for addressing adversaries that employ frequency hopping or rapidly switch between communication protocols. The adoption of waveform agility – the ability for jammers to change their own spectral and modulation characteristics in response to adversary countermeasures – enables the persistent disruption of targets that rely on sophisticated anti-jamming technologies.
Military and scientific reports from the past year emphasize that the intersection of DRFM with machine learning has allowed for the construction of jammers that can analyze intercepted waveforms and select optimal jamming or deception strategies automatically, all in milliseconds. These innovations are considered essential by defense analysts for sustaining electromagnetic dominance on future battlefields, particularly as both state and non-state actors invest in advanced spectrum management and resilience tactics.
Phased Array And MIMO Radar/RF Systems
Electronically steerable phased array and multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) systems are now central to both SIGINT collection and electronic warfare. Phased arrays utilize rapid, electronic beamforming to scan for targets or intercept signals without moving mechanical antennas, dramatically reducing setup and response times, according to Grey Dynamics. With the proliferation of highly miniaturized and mixed-signal MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit)-based arrays, such solutions are now being fielded in compact, mobile, and distributed RF sensors.
MIMO radar techniques introduce spatial diversity by simultaneously transmitting and receiving on multiple antennas, which enhances detection capabilities in environments dense with clutter or electronic interference. Modern MIMO platforms excel at distinguishing weak or obscured targets and are less susceptible to common jamming and deception tactics, as the multidimensional structure of their returns enables sophisticated filtering and validation.
Recent technical studies from academic institutions reveal that these systems are at the heart of ongoing efforts to create SIGINT platforms that can cover broader real-time operational environments, provide more precise geolocation of emitters, and support highly detailed electronic order of battle mapping. The accelerating adoption of MMIC technology allows for highly integrated, scalable phased array architectures, supporting more elements and thus finer angular resolution or the ability to track many targets simultaneously – all critical needs for contemporary battlefield and strategic SIGINT operations.
Secure And Jam-Resistant Communications
To outpace adversaries’ growing jamming and interception capabilities, the newest generation of tactical and strategic communications systems incorporates a suite of spread spectrum, frequency hopping, and low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) techniques at the RF front end. These strategies are tightly coupled with advanced cryptographic protocols embedded at the physical and data link layers, ensuring that even if a transmission is intercepted, its contents remain protected. The result is a dramatic enhancement in communication resilience for both crewed and uncrewed platforms, especially in contested or denied environments.
Key innovations over the last year include novel methods by which frequency-hopping patterns or spread spectrum codes are dynamically generated in response to real-time sensing of jamming threats. This creates a moving target for adversaries attempting to lock onto and disrupt legitimate communications, and such techniques are increasingly being implemented in both military and critical infrastructure solutions.
Academic and government research points to a thriving area of investigation: combining RF front-end agility – the ability to alter frequency, bandwidth, and modulation on the fly – with higher-layer security features. This interaction yields both jam resistance (maintaining link operation under attack) and a reduced chance of adversary detection, even by sophisticated SIGINT or EW systems. Not only does this enable more robust command and control, but it also protects sensitive data flows in operational theaters where spectrum is severely contested.