US allocates $5B for electronic warfare amid rising global competition

The United States will allocate $5 billion specifically for electronic warfare in 2024. In the coming years, China, Russia, and India are expected to reduce the disproportionately large portion of global electronic warfare spending that the U.S. currently holds.

The U.S. Air Force expressed concerns about the potential for more advanced adversaries to imitate or deceive Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) technology as early as the 1990s. According to a recent report, the United States is currently the leading global investor and developer of electronic warfare, having allocated approximately $5 billion toward signal technology in 2024 alone.

The U.S. military had the highest proportion of electronic warfare spending between 2021 and 2023, accounting for 45% of global expenditure. In comparison, Russia accounted for 14% and China accounted for 13%.

However, it appears that Washington’s dominant position in the electronic warfare market is likely to face competition.

According to the report, it is anticipated that Russia, China and India will experience growth in their market share in electronic warfare in the coming decade. According to the report, the combined spending of the world’s top nine electronic warfare militaries will exceed $16 billion by 2033, a significant increase from the current amount of over $11 billion.

Electronic warfare, also known as electromagnetic warfare, according to NATO, involves the utilization of directed energy within the electromagnetic spectrum to hinder or disrupt an adversary’s activities.