Powerful electromagnetic battle management ecosystem completes first flight test, proves efficacy

A Florida-based company has successfully completed the first flight test of an electromagnetic battle management ecosystem. L3Harris Technologies completed the test with Shield AI’s Hivemind mission-autonomy software.Known as Distributed Spectrum Collaboration and Operations (DiSCO), the system is a resilient, vendor-agnostic Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) architecture that connects multiple electronic warfare (EW) systems across a distributed network for real-time threat detection and response.The flight test was performed on an L3Harris Green Wolf. This step marks a significant milestone in autonomous electronic warfare following a simulated test in February 2026. System detected, analyzed and responded to electromagnetic threats Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) detected, analyzed and responded to electromagnetic threats without human intervention on a live flight test range. Hivemind, on board the Green Wolf, commanded the aircraft based on threat data from DiSCO, autonomously rerouting follow-on unmanned systems through a safe operating zone without human input, according to a press release.“This successful demonstration shows how quickly we can transform concepts into operational capability for the joint force,” said Lauren Barnes, President, Spectrum Superiority, Communications & Spectrum Dominance, L3Harris. “By pairing autonomous decision-making with advanced spectrum battle management, we’re giving warfighters the resilience and speed they need to stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats.”The flight test featured the compact, software-defined Deceptor electronic warfare payload deployed on multiple UAS. The mission scenario validated the ability for a UAS to sense and characterize unknown threats, share data through DiSCO and leverage Hivemind to autonomously route follow-on UAS through a safe operating zone in real time, as per the release. Pairing DiSCO with Hivemind onboard Green Wolf “L3Harris brings some of the most advanced electronic warfare capabilities in the world, and pairing DiSCO with Hivemind onboard Green Wolf produced something neither system could deliver alone,” said Christian Gutierrez, Senior Vice President, Hivemind, Shield AI. “This flight test proved Hivemind can compress the sensor-to-decision cycle in real time, enabling autonomous systems to sense, share, and act on spectrum threats faster than ever before. We are proud to be expanding that capability alongside L3Harris.” System equipped with electronic attack and advanced detection The test integrated an L3Harris Green Wolf launched effects system equipped with electronic attack and advanced detection. This demonstration further validated Green Wolf’s role as a multi-mission platform, supporting distributed and networked electronic warfare operations. L3Harris and Shield AI will continue to expand mission applications and autonomy though open architecture for electronic warfare at the tactical edge.Electronic warfare is increasingly becoming a critical element of modern military operations, where forces must rapidly detect, identify and counter hostile electromagnetic emissions while protecting friendly communications. Integrating artificial intelligence into these missions is expected to reduce operator workload and accelerate response times in highly contested environments.Officials from both companies stressed that the successful demonstration highlights the value of open-architecture systems that allow advanced autonomy software to work seamlessly with electronic warfare platforms. Future efforts will focus on expanding mission applications and enhancing autonomous capabilities for tactical edge operations.The collaboration between L3Harris and Shield AI reflects the defence industry’s growing emphasis on AI-enabled autonomous systems capable of conducting complex missions with greater speed, resilience and coordination. As militaries worldwide seek more effective ways to operate in contested electromagnetic environments, technologies such as DiSCO and Hivemind are expected to play an increasingly important role in next-generation electronic warfare capabilities.Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.