Beyond Pulses: SRC’s Journey to Elevate Electronic Warfare with DGEN and NEWEG Upgrades

In the intricate world of Electronic Warfare (EW), the ability to simulate threats and test defense systems against them is paramount. Imagine a supercomputer capable of creating a virtual battlefield, simulating thousands of electronic threats, all pulsating and maneuvering to challenge the defense systems under test. This isn’t a figment of sci-fi imagination but a tangible reality crafted by SRC through their Digital Generator (DGEN) and the Next Generation Electronic Warfare Environment Generator (NEWEG) system.

SRC, with its rich legacy of over 40 years in engineering and innovative technology development, has been a silent warrior, safeguarding those who safeguard us. The NEWEG and DGEN systems were developed to bring intelligence-driven threat simulation to the modeling and simulation communities, ensuring our defense systems are tested against the most realistic and validated threats possible. The DGEN, in particular, was a marvel in its own right, capable of simulating more than 4,000 validated threats, each pulsating at a staggering 8 million pulses per second. This complex RF picture was not just a simulation but a crucial tool, reducing the reprogramming timeline and ensuring that data reached the warfighter in time to make actionable decisions.

However, technology, no matter how advanced, encounters its own set of challenges and limitations. The DGEN, despite its impressive capabilities, was bound by the limitations of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) available at the time it was developed. This limitation imposed a restriction on which Electronic Warfare Integrated Reprogramming Database (EWIRDB) models DGEN could execute, creating a bottleneck in its otherwise stellar performance.

Enter the upgrade, a much-needed revamp planned by the US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD). The upgrade isn’t just a mere enhancement but a significant leap, aiming to equip the DGEN with new hardware, notably two SRC6150E Keystone Cluster Cabinets and one SRC6130 Spare AMPS, under the AEA IPT EA-18G program. But the upgrade isn’t just about adding more hardware. It’s about enhancing the very core of the DGEN, enabling it to execute complex threat models in real-time, something that was a challenge with the original system due to its CPU limitations.

The Keystone Cluster cabinets are not just additional hardware but serve as an execution engine for reactive threat model simulation. The goal is to provide real-time execution of complex threat models, which was a limitation of the DGEN in its original form. This upgrade is not just a testament to the technological advancements but also a reflection of the evolving needs in electronic warfare testing and simulation.

In a world where electronic threats are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated, the ability to simulate these threats, understand them, and develop countermeasures in a simulated environment is crucial. The NEWEG and DGEN, with their enhanced capabilities post-upgrade, stand as a bulwark, ensuring that our defense systems are tested, validated, and reprogrammed against the most realistic threats possible, safeguarding our skies and shores against the unseen pulses of electronic warfare.

#EW #ElectronicWarfare #SRC #NAWCAD #Navy