The Radio Spectrum & The Modern Battlefield

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8 Nov 2025

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The radio spectrum has always been a vital resource, powering radios, televisions, communications links and navigation resources. And as time has evolved, and technology has shifted, we’ve seen the space become more and more contested. You need to look no further than the early days of the Russia — Ukraine war to realise that spectrum management, or even better, spectrum dominance, is now a vital part of modern warfare.

Now, state actors globally realise that control of the spectrum can be as decisive as control of the land, sea, air, or cyber domains.

Why The Spectrum Matters

It’s fair to say that the spectrum is most certainly “dual-use” in nature. Not only do militaries use it for targeting weapons, drones, satellite links and tactical communications, but it’s also a civilian resource that’s used to power aviation, finance, power generation and even telecommunications.

This is one of the unique problems in modern warfare. Given the extensive crossover between the two systems, any successful attack is most likely to create an overlap that dramatically affects both parties.

We also see similar problems occurring in space. Despite the best efforts of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to synchronise satellite frequency allocation, the orbital nature of space-based assets regularly sees clashes and incorrect frequency pairings that can cause issues to in-service assets.

The vintage amateur satellite AO-07 is a great example of this. While everything was correctly set up prior to the satellite's launch in 1974, there would be extensive changes made to the spectrum in 1979. As a result of this, the uplink frequency would move outside the initial allocation and require a waiver in the United States that would help keep the situation legal when operating on 70cm (UHF).

Lockheed’s F-35 Lightning is alleged to have a cyber warfare capability along with netcentric features. Source: Wikipedia.

Emerging Threats

Thanks to electronic warfare methods, while Jamming, Spoofing and replay attacks are all well known and continue to be viable attacks at this point, modern technology has evolved to give us a few additional problems as well. Some of these problems are incidental, and a great example of this is spectrum scarcity. In recent years, the use of RF links and IOT systems has exploded, as has access to high-speed 5G mobile networks. This can create conflict between civilian and military or even commercial and military as stakeholders battle for the right to access large chunks of spectrum.

The very evolution of modern technology has also helped to shape the concept and delivery of the hybrid attack. Here, wireless networks or transmission nodes can act as the delivery point for an attack that can move laterally from a wireless network to a wired system. While exact information on the systems remains classified, it’s generally accepted that Lockheed’s F-35 Lightning variants have a significant offensive capability that is covered as part of its electronic warfare suite. Hybrid attacks are suspected to be a large component of that.

Stealth aviation platforms have been effective because, for the most part, you can’t shoot what you can’t see. However, a well-conducted hybrid attack has the potential to throw the accuracy of sensors or intelligence into doubt. Which is, to be blunt, a very modern problem indeed.

Geopolitical Implications

We certainly live in interesting times, but the reality is that what we see in times of geopolitical tension pales in comparison to what we might expect to see during a peer war. The war in Ukraine has already highlighted the utility of low-earth orbit constellations like Starlink, and as such, these systems are prime targets in any conflict gone hot.

Kinetic problems aside, though, the biggest issue then becomes the lack of regulation and coordination across the spectrum. In peacetime, this would be handled by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) however, in times of war, the ITU has little to no enforcement capability. This means that some see the spectrum as “up for grabs” and act accordingly.

It’s also worth remembering that in some instances, electronic warfare or cyber warfare operations provide an element of deniability that isn’t always available with kinetic methods. This no doubt has an appeal for those state actors who like to dabble in subterfuge. Stuxnet anybody?

Victory, Without A Shot Fired

In its current state, controlling the spectrum is controlling the flow of information. Properly leveraged, dominance in this domain can blind adversaries, disable weapons systems, and paralyse infrastructure without firing a shot.

It’s important to point out that both Space and Information Warfare are by no means new concepts. What is new, though, is the hybrid manner in which they now overlap.
Now, space is the ultimate military high ground, and information warfare isn’t about just controlling the information, it’s about using it to your advantage.

You won’t have to read many articles on the Russia — Ukraine war to hear about how drones have shaped the conflict and changed warfare forever. The reality is, though, it isn’t just drones that have changed things. Space, Cyber, and Info war strategies have reshaped the modern battlefield and, without a doubt, changed things forever.

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