The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (FMI) establishes the Centre for Technology and Innovation to enhance capabilities in electronic warfare. The unit will consolidate technical expertise and advisory services to meet the demands of the modern combat environment.

Electronic warfare (EW) has evolved from a niche area to a crucial factor in modern military operations, writes FMI in a press release. To address this development, FMI has established a new unit under its development division. The new centre replaces the Joint Knowledge Centre and consists of three parts: the Technology Section, the EW Section, and the Danish Defence Innovation Unit (DDIU).

Kristian Pedersen, head of the Technology Section and acting head of the EW Section, describes the area as central to everything from radio and data communication to radar systems.

– If one is not aware of the threats and lacks methods to act when exposed to electronic warfare from the opponent, then one is doomed, he says.

The purpose of the initiative, according to FMI, is to translate deep technical knowledge into concrete advice for the Danish defence. This includes everything from testing and simulations to the assessment of new systems before acquisition. FMI announces that it will recruit new technicians and advisers for the EW Section during 2026.

– We must have the deep technical expertise so that we can advise those on ships, in aircraft, and in the field – both when FMI is to acquire something and when the Defence is to use it, says Kristian Pedersen.

FMI believes that the need for enhanced EW capability is underscored by experiences from the war in Ukraine, where jamming and spoofing of drones and communication are commonplace. The development is rapid, and solutions that work today can quickly become obsolete. An example of technological adaptation is drones controlled via fibre optic cable to avoid radio interference.

Kristian Pedersen emphasises that the capability is not solely about protection.

– It would be naive to focus only on the defensive side. If we do not have the capacity ourselves and cannot use it, we give away an advantage, he says.

The new structure is intended to ensure that electronic warfare is integrated into all military acquisitions, whether it concerns aircraft, ships, or land vehicles.