Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through a partnership with Northrop Grumman.
The collaboration focuses on developing local expertise, enhancing data optimization, and improving threat simulation to enable Japan to manage the full EW spectrum — from detection and exploitation to deception, denial, and protection of friendly forces.
This initiative comes at a time of increasing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly involving China and Japan over regions such as Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Northrop Grumman has proposed key technologies to support Japan’s objectives, including the Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator (CEESIM) and the Joint Threat Emitter (JTE).
CEESIM creates highly realistic electromagnetic battle environments, simulating threats from multiple directions to support testing and integration of EW systems in controlled facilities and operational ranges. The system has been in use since 1983 and has supported programs such as the ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite, ALQ-251 RF countermeasures, and the APR-39E(V)2 digital radar warning receiver.
The JTE, on the other hand, is a responsive training system designed to help operators identify and counter threats such as missiles and artillery in real time.
