Nashua, N.H. – September 18, 2026 -- BAE Systems has launched Shadow EWTM, a family of compact electronic warfare systems built to equip small airborne platforms with situational awareness and self-defense capabilities in contested environments.
BAE Systems targets high-volume, low-cost production using commercial microchips
The company is producing Shadow EW systems at scale using commercial-grade microchips for high-performance computing, a design choice intended to cut costs and streamline supply chains. BAE Systems says the approach leverages its proven high-volume manufacturing base and skilled workforce to accelerate production and delivery timelines.
Products support targeting, deception and collaborative effects for small platforms
Shadow EW is engineered as small, lightweight, and power-efficient hardware built on open architecture standards. The systems are field-upgradeable and software-defined, supporting situational awareness, targeting, deception, survivability, and collaborative effects delivery missions.
Rebecca Cruz says flexible hardware and iterative software address evolving battlefield threats
"The modern battlefield is changing at an unprecedented pace and all platforms, regardless of size, require adaptable electronic warfare capabilities to survive," said Rebecca Cruz, Director, Shadow EW products at BAE Systems. She said the solutions pair configurable hardware with iterative software updates to counter rapidly evolving threats.
Production splits between Iowa manufacturing and New Hampshire design work
Manufacturing of the Shadow EW family will take place at BAE Systems facilities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, while software and design development will be based in Nashua, New Hampshire. The launch comes as BAE Systems positions the product line to meet demand from the U.S. Department of War for scalable, cost-effective EW solutions across a growing range of small airborne platforms.