The use of autonomous military vehicles has been rapidly transforming modern warfare and the military landscape, minimizing risks to soldiers, enhancing operational capabilities, and improving a mission’s success rate.

However, there’s an increasing reliance on electronics and communication systems, which has introduced new vulnerabilities, most notably, the potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). EMI and RFI can come from various sources, such as enemy jamming devices, other military technologies, or natural environmental factors like solar flares. When these interferences occur, military vehicles may experience a loss of control, incorrect sensor readings, or a communication breakdown, which can compromise the safety of the mission and all personnel involved.

This is where EMI/RFI shielding plays an important role in safeguarding these vehicles, ensuring they remain operational even in the most challenging environments.

Here’s a brief overview of how EMI/RFI shielding protects autonomous military vehicles.

The Rise of Autonomous Military Vehicles

Autonomous military vehicles have been revolutionizing modern warfare since their inception during World War II, when German Goliath-tracked mines, or “beetle tanks,” were used to deliver explosives to enemy targets. These early unmanned systems laid the foundation for the development of improved autonomous vehicles in the coming decades, including unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and early drone technology during the Cold War and artificial intelligence and robotics during the 2000s.

Several factors have attributed to the rapid rise of autonomous military vehicles, including:

• Complex military operations, which require unmanned systems for high-risk missions in dangerous or logistically challenging environments.
• The use of smaller, non-traditional forces to engage larger, more powerful adversaries, which may rely on autonomous vehicles due to their adaptability and cost-effectiveness.
• The need to reduce human casualties. Autonomous systems are able to perform tasks such as bomb disposal, reconnaissance, and various combat operations, which improves a mission’s success rate and protects the lives of military personnel.
• Emerging technological advancements and trends, which have enabled autonomous vehicles to adapt to changing conditions and operate seamlessly with minimal human intervention.
  • Cybersecurity integration
  • Advanced sensors
  • Swarming technology
  • Integration of UAVs and UGVs
  • Artificial intelligence to make real-time decisions

In short, military forces worldwide are making substantial investments in autonomous military technology, thereby improving operational readiness and various combat capabilities.

The Dangers of EMI/RFI Interference in Warfare

EMI and RFI pose significant threats to the performance of military autonomous vehicles, potentially crippling their effectiveness in combat zones. This could disrupt important communications, leading to various operational risks and a compromised success rate of military missions.

Such risks and dangers include:

• Data security risks, as interference can open up vulnerabilities for cyberattacks on military systems, which could expose sensitive information.
• Hijacking. EMI and RFI can disrupt the communication between autonomous vehicles and their operators, which could allow enemy forces to remotely control or hijack the vehicle.
• Loss of operational viability. Autonomous military vehicles must operate in a variety of extreme environments, including deserts, arctic regions, and marine settings. If EMI and/or RFI hinder communication and sensor performance, this could render vehicles less effective or entirely inoperable.
• Sensor interference could lead to miscalculations or false readings.

The risk of interference is further compounded by the fact that autonomous systems are often highly dependent on electronics and communication networks, which is why it’s crucial to safeguard them from both internal and external interference to ensure mission success with minimal casualties.

MAJR Products’ Role in Military & Defense EMI/RFI Shielding

EMI/RFI shielding protects autonomous military vehicles by preventing harmful electromagnetic and radio frequency interference from disrupting their critical electronic systems. The shielding acts as a barrier, absorbing or deflecting unwanted electromagnetic waves to ensure that the vehicle’s communication and sensor equipment remain secure and accurate.

Without effective shielding, external sources of interference, be it from enemy jamming equipment, other military technologies, or even natural environmental factors, could compromise the functionality of these systems.

At MAJR Products, we understand the importance of EMI/RFI shielding in military operations. Our expertise in providing cutting-edge shielding solutions has been proven across a variety of applications, including bomb disposal robots, unmanned mini vehicles, and full-size vehicles. With the increasing reliance on autonomous systems for high-risk missions, MAJR Products is proud to offer tailored shielding solutions that meet the unique demands of modern military technology.

These include:

• Control box shielding gaskets
• Shielded ventilation panels
• EMI windows and conductive coatings
• Conductive gaskets.

Our shielding products are specifically designed to meet the demands of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and National Guard, and adhere to strict shielding standards, including TEMPEST, MIL-STD-188, ICS/ICD 705, and MIL-STD-461.

Protect Your Military Vehicles & Applications Today

With over 25 years of experience, we have supported the military and its subcontractors from the design phase to production and retrofitting. Our shielding products meet rigorous testing requirements to provide reliable support for critical applications, including SCIFs, portable generators, electronic warfare systems, TEMPEST secure rooms, autonomous vehicles, and communication equipment.

Contact MAJR Products today to keep your autonomous military vehicles protected and functional when it counts the most.