Used in Iran and Venezuela: Washington Bolsters Electromagnetic Warfare Capabilities to Protect Forces and Disrupt Adversary Communications

The Wall Street Journal revealed key missions and operations performed by a group of warfare systems within the US "Space Force," which it says play a pivotal role during tasks.

During a visit to a Space Force base in Colorado, the newspaper noted that the Space Force's electromagnetic warfare systems play a major role in US military operations, as well as protecting forces and disrupting hostile satellites around the world.

The paper conducted exclusive interviews with members of the force—dubbed "Guardians"—who participated in operating these systems abroad to support operations in both Venezuela and Iran.

It mentioned that one of those "Guardians" carried out a mission to jam satellites to provide protective cover for US forces while executing an operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

The visit included a demonstration of offensive and defensive systems dealing with electromagnetic signals, allowing the detection of threats targeting US forces, alongside disrupting adversary satellite communications.

The tour also revealed the US Army's trend toward enhancing its capabilities to rapidly deploy electronic warfare equipment to operational sites, granting it greater flexibility in dealing with changing threats.

The "Meadowlands" system was among the most prominent systems the newspaper examined; it is an offensive system capable of jamming hostile satellites and cutting or weakening the communications they rely on.

These satellites are used for surveillance, data transmission, and navigation, making the disruption of their signals a means to affect the adversary's ability to gather information and communicate with their forces. The US system allows targeting space communications without needing to physically destroy the satellites themselves.

These systems also include the "Bounty Hunter" system, designed to monitor activity within the electromagnetic spectrum and identify signal sources that may pose a threat to US forces.

The system works by scanning frequencies and analyzing signals to locate potential threats, helping military commanders know the source of danger and take appropriate decisions to deal with it.

The information provided by the system can be utilized to precisely locate threats and support issuing orders for defensive response. This function reflects the integration between monitoring capabilities and offensive systems, where signal monitoring identifies threat sources, while jamming systems provide a means to affect communications used by the adversary.

The newspaper also revealed that the US Space Force accelerated the deployment of the "Remote Modular Terminal" system, characterized by its small size and ease of transport and setup at various locations worldwide.

On August 13, 2026, the Combat Command of the US Space Force announced the successful test of a concept for the rapid deployment of these units, through packing them into containers dedicated for transport.

It clarified that this method halves the number of spaces required on aircraft, reduces maintenance requirements, and enhances equipment protection and reliability.

According to the command, these systems allow temporary jamming of satellite links, can be operated remotely, and deployed in large numbers at relatively lower cost. Their mobile nature also allows providing electronic warfare capabilities in environments where relying on fixed installations is difficult.

The new units work alongside the "Meadowlands" system, within a US trend to expand options for dealing with hostile satellite communications, while retaining the possibility of disrupting signals without causing orbital debris.

US forces rely on satellites to detect missile launches, assist in guiding weapons, and obtain high-resolution images of operational areas, making the protection of space communications an essential element in the continuation of these missions.

Lieutenant General Gregory Gagnon, commander of the Combat Command of the US Space Force, affirmed that control over the electromagnetic spectrum represents one of the primary missions of US forces, given the reliance of modern military systems on signals for communication and information exchange.

The newspaper quoted him saying that these invisible waves connect multiple military systems, including submarines, aircraft, ships, drones, radar facilities, and satellites.

He affirmed that possessing the ability to control the electromagnetic spectrum helps the United States keep its military systems connected and functioning efficiently, simultaneously disrupting the adversaries' ability to achieve the same level of connection and coordination.