An Indra-led consortium of European companies is preparing to start work on an electronic-warfare capability for the European Union. The project, known as Responsive Electronic Attack for Cooperative Tasks (REACT), aims to protect friendly aircraft from missile attacks. The consortium includes European sensor makers Hensoldt, Elettronica, and Saab, and was selected to receive funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF) for this initiative.
The REACT program seeks to develop a system capable of jamming signals used to target European aircraft while simultaneously disabling adversary electronic-warfare emitters. With the increasing sophistication of long-range, integrated air defense systems, airborne electronic attack (AEA) capabilities are becoming essential to create safe zones around formations of aircraft.
The consortium, led by Indra, will be building on the progress and lessons learned during the first phase of the REACT initiative. The project is linked to the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) initiative focused on airborne electronic attack, which translates into additional subsidies from Brussels.
Indra is one of three prime contractors on the trinational Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, representing Spanish industry and serving as the lead contractor for the sensors portfolio. The FCAS program, which also includes France and Germany, entered its Phase 1B technological demonstration phase in December 2022. Indra is expected to receive €600 million ($640 million) for its work during this phase.
During REACT I, the industry partners developed operational scenarios and studied potential threats. This led to the creation of an architecture, specification, and preliminary design of the AEA capabilities. REACT II is set to officially begin at the end of 2023, with the main milestone being the demonstration of the AEA capabilities through testing of different prototypes. The program is expected to take four years and cost around €69.7 million.
The REACT II project is financed through the European Defence Fund and the ministries of defense of Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Poland. Industrial participation and support are also provided by Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Poland. The program will be managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on behalf of the participating nations.
Source: Defense News