Long Wars, Long Contracts: Why Army Procurement Belongs in Your Portfolio - Part 7
7
Electronic Warfare and the Invisible Battlefield
Up to this point, we have laid the foundation, envisioned a Pacific confrontation, explored vulnerabilities in medicine and supply chains, and walked through the Army’s most visible new weapons—hypersonics, precision missiles, drones, and layered strike systems like Typhon. Now, we turn to something less visible but just as critical: electronic warfare and directed energy weapons. These are the systems that operate on the invisible battlefield, and they are becoming every bit as decisive as tanks or missiles.
Why Electronic Warfare Matters Now
When Russia invaded Ukraine, one of the early surprises was the effectiveness of their electronic warfare units. By jamming GPS signals, interfering with drones, and disrupting communications, they slowed Ukraine’s ability to coordinate. Over time, Western countermeasures restored balance, but the lesson was clear: the side that controls the spectrum controls the fight.
The U.S. Army has taken that lesson to heart. Beyond the missiles and drones making headlines, billions of dollars are being invested into electronic warfare, cyber integration, and directed energy systems. These may not make for flashy news stories, but they determine who sees, who communicates, and who survives on tomorrow’s battlefield.
The Terrestrial Layer System (TLS)
One of the Army’s flagship programs in this area is the Terrestrial Layer System. Developed as a family of ground vehicles, TLS combines electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and cyber tools into one platform. Mounted on Stryker vehicles and other mobile units, TLS can jam enemy communications, disrupt radars, and intercept signals—all while feeding that data back into the Army’s networked command systems.
Think of TLS as both an ear and a voice: it listens to the battlefield, pulling in critical intelligence, and it speaks with force by jamming or deceiving enemy sensors. For investors, this program is significant because it requires not just vehicles and hardware, but constant software upgrades, data management, and cybersecurity contracts—recurring revenue streams that will persist for decades.
Directed Energy: Lasers and Microwaves
Electronic warfare is not just about signals. It is also about directed energy weapons—lasers and high-powered microwaves.
The Army’s Directed Energy-Maneuver Short Range Air Defense system (DE-MSHORAD) is one example. Mounted on Stryker vehicles, this 50-kilowatt laser is designed to take down drones, rockets, and artillery shells at the speed of light. No reloads, no ammunition convoys—just silent, precise beams that can disable incoming threats.
The Army is also testing high-powered microwave weapons designed to disable swarms of drones simultaneously. As adversaries move toward massed, low-cost drone tactics, microwaves may prove as important as missiles.
For retirees and long-term investors, the significance is clear: these are systems that will not just be purchased once. They require continuous R&D, fielding, maintenance, and expansion across multiple units. That translates into sustained contracts for the companies involved.
The Force Multiplier Effect
Electronic warfare and directed energy act as force multipliers. They make every other system more effective. A hypersonic missile is useless if it cannot navigate; a drone is worthless if it cannot communicate. By disrupting enemy electronics, EW systems neutralize adversaries without firing a shot. By shielding U.S. forces from incoming drones or rockets, lasers extend the survivability of every soldier on the ground.
This is the kind of technology that rarely makes headlines, but it quietly defines outcomes. And for investors, it represents steady, under-the-radar opportunities that grow year after year.
A Philosophy of Minimizing and Maximizing
Now let me gently tie this back to something we emphasize in planning. I use the acronym TEAM—Time, Effort, Aggravation, and Money. The goal is always to minimize the first three and maximize the fourth. That is exactly what electronic warfare does. It minimizes enemy effectiveness, minimizes U.S. casualties, minimizes wasted resources, and maximizes survivability.
It is a reminder that whether we are looking at portfolios or weapons systems, the same principles apply: clarity, efficiency, and long-term resilience.
Looking Ahead
In our next section, we will move from the invisible battlefield to the visible backbone of civilian life: infrastructure warfare. Water systems, energy grids, food distribution, and communications networks are all potential targets in modern conflict—and all areas where America’s resilience will be tested.
So once again, think again. The fight is not just about missiles in the sky—it is also about who controls the signals, who commands the spectrum, and who is prepared for the invisible battle that determines everything else.
Electronic Warfare and the Invisible Battlefield
Up to this point, we have laid the foundation, envisioned a Pacific confrontation, explored vulnerabilities in medicine and supply chains, and walked through the Army’s most visible new weapons—hypersonics, precision missiles, drones, and layered strike systems like Typhon. Now, we turn to something less visible but just as critical: electronic warfare and directed energy weapons. These are the systems that operate on the invisible battlefield, and they are becoming every bit as decisive as tanks or missiles.
Why Electronic Warfare Matters Now
When Russia invaded Ukraine, one of the early surprises was the effectiveness of their electronic warfare units. By jamming GPS signals, interfering with drones, and disrupting communications, they slowed Ukraine’s ability to coordinate. Over time, Western countermeasures restored balance, but the lesson was clear: the side that controls the spectrum controls the fight.
The U.S. Army has taken that lesson to heart. Beyond the missiles and drones making headlines, billions of dollars are being invested into electronic warfare, cyber integration, and directed energy systems. These may not make for flashy news stories, but they determine who sees, who communicates, and who survives on tomorrow’s battlefield.
The Terrestrial Layer System (TLS)
One of the Army’s flagship programs in this area is the Terrestrial Layer System. Developed as a family of ground vehicles, TLS combines electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and cyber tools into one platform. Mounted on Stryker vehicles and other mobile units, TLS can jam enemy communications, disrupt radars, and intercept signals—all while feeding that data back into the Army’s networked command systems.
Think of TLS as both an ear and a voice: it listens to the battlefield, pulling in critical intelligence, and it speaks with force by jamming or deceiving enemy sensors. For investors, this program is significant because it requires not just vehicles and hardware, but constant software upgrades, data management, and cybersecurity contracts—recurring revenue streams that will persist for decades.
Directed Energy: Lasers and Microwaves
Electronic warfare is not just about signals. It is also about directed energy weapons—lasers and high-powered microwaves.
The Army’s Directed Energy-Maneuver Short Range Air Defense system (DE-MSHORAD) is one example. Mounted on Stryker vehicles, this 50-kilowatt laser is designed to take down drones, rockets, and artillery shells at the speed of light. No reloads, no ammunition convoys—just silent, precise beams that can disable incoming threats.
The Army is also testing high-powered microwave weapons designed to disable swarms of drones simultaneously. As adversaries move toward massed, low-cost drone tactics, microwaves may prove as important as missiles.
For retirees and long-term investors, the significance is clear: these are systems that will not just be purchased once. They require continuous R&D, fielding, maintenance, and expansion across multiple units. That translates into sustained contracts for the companies involved.
The Force Multiplier Effect
Electronic warfare and directed energy act as force multipliers. They make every other system more effective. A hypersonic missile is useless if it cannot navigate; a drone is worthless if it cannot communicate. By disrupting enemy electronics, EW systems neutralize adversaries without firing a shot. By shielding U.S. forces from incoming drones or rockets, lasers extend the survivability of every soldier on the ground.
This is the kind of technology that rarely makes headlines, but it quietly defines outcomes. And for investors, it represents steady, under-the-radar opportunities that grow year after year.
A Philosophy of Minimizing and Maximizing
Now let me gently tie this back to something we emphasize in planning. I use the acronym TEAM—Time, Effort, Aggravation, and Money. The goal is always to minimize the first three and maximize the fourth. That is exactly what electronic warfare does. It minimizes enemy effectiveness, minimizes U.S. casualties, minimizes wasted resources, and maximizes survivability.
It is a reminder that whether we are looking at portfolios or weapons systems, the same principles apply: clarity, efficiency, and long-term resilience.
Looking Ahead
In our next section, we will move from the invisible battlefield to the visible backbone of civilian life: infrastructure warfare. Water systems, energy grids, food distribution, and communications networks are all potential targets in modern conflict—and all areas where America’s resilience will be tested.
So once again, think again. The fight is not just about missiles in the sky—it is also about who controls the signals, who commands the spectrum, and who is prepared for the invisible battle that determines everything else.