The Army plans to move its long-range ground electronic warfare system into production in fiscal 2027 after reshaping the program around commercial technology and modular equipment. The system, called Terrestrial Layer System-Echelons Above Brigade, or TLS-EAB, was originally conceived as a larger, purpose-built capability for division- and corps-level units. Breaking Defense reported that both the system’s electronic warfare and signals intelligence variants are slated for procurement next year.
The production plan follows a major change in the Army’s requirements. Mark Saxon, the deputy project manager for Electromagnetic Warfare & Collection, said the program began more than five years ago with highly specific requirements, but the operational environment changed quickly enough that those requirements no longer fit the Army’s needs. The service then shifted toward a commercial-first approach, he said at the TechNet Augusta conference.
That change also divided the original combined capability into separate variants. The electronic warfare version, TLS-EW, is intended to support operations at higher echelons than brigade-level formations, where units operate over longer distances and face different target sets. The signals intelligence version will be procured alongside it, giving the Army two tailored paths instead of one system designed to cover every mission.
TLS-EW now uses a portable box that can be placed on different platforms rather than being permanently integrated into a specific vehicle. Saxon told Breaking Defense that the Army is still prototyping versions for sheltered or vehicle-based use, including configurations for Humvees and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles.
The commercial and modular approach was tested at Project Convergence and other events, including activity involving the 25th Infantry Division in the Pacific. Saxon said those prototypes performed successfully during the events.
The Army’s earlier concept called for TLS-EAB to combine signals intelligence and electronic warfare in a single system for division and corps headquarters. The service began moving toward a more tailored theater approach as early as 2023, replacing the one-size-fits-all model with separate capabilities. The shift came as Army officials reassessed how quickly the electromagnetic environment was changing and how equipment would need to be distributed across command levels.
Project Convergence also demonstrated the use of electronic warfare capabilities at multiple points in the command-and-control structure. Units employed TLS-EAB, TLS-Manpack and other capabilities to collect intelligence, monitor their electromagnetic signatures and identify high-value targets, Breaking Defense reported.
The service’s officials described that employment as part of a longer effort to rebuild electronic warfare capacity after years of reduced investment following the Cold War. The Army now faces adversaries that can maneuver in the electromagnetic spectrum, locate forces from their emissions and interfere with communications and precision weapons. Both TLS-EW and the signals intelligence variant are slated for procurement in fiscal 2027, while additional platform-specific versions remain in development.