3dB Labs Spectrum Situational Awareness System

History

The Spectrum Situational Awareness System (S2AS) is a U.S. Army electromagnetic-spectrum sensing system developed by Ohio-based 3dB Labs. It is designed to show commanders the electromagnetic emissions produced by friendly forces and support decisions intended to reduce their observable signature.

S2AS senses, detects, analyzes, and reports emitter information. Its principal role is situational awareness rather than suppression: the system identifies electromagnetic emissions, including signals that may violate friendly emission-control procedures, but does not itself suppress them.

The Army has developed S2AS as an organic electromagnetic-warfare sensing capability for spectrum managers and command posts. The system is intended to help formations understand how their own radios, mobile devices, commercial equipment, and other emitters appear in the electromagnetic operating environment.

Development and testing

In 2025, soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, 11th Airborne Division, and Special Operations Command received initial training and participated in a three-week user assessment of S2AS at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The developmental event simulated a brigade headquarters with two geographically separated companies and evaluated whether the system could sense, detect, and report emitter information.

The assessment included training on S2AS and the Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool-X. Army officials described S2AS as providing real-time electromagnetic-spectrum situational awareness for decisions related to spectrum use. The Army also identified the system as a program of record for spectrum managers and planned continued refinement through further experimentation.

The Army announced a $6.1 million contract with 3dB Labs to develop and demonstrate the S2AS platform over a 14-month period. The Army planned fielding to Transformation in Contact 2.0 units during fiscal year 2026.

Initial fielding

On August 28, 2026, Army officials said nine S2AS systems would be delivered to prioritized Army units within approximately three weeks. The Army did not identify the receiving units. Officials also stated that 46 systems were expected to have been delivered by July 2027.

The Army's emphasis on electromagnetic-signature awareness reflects the increasing ability of opposing forces to detect radio-frequency and other emissions and use them to locate military formations. S2AS is intended to help commanders measure their own electromagnetic signature and determine whether measures intended to reduce that signature are effective.

Design

S2AS is a deployable sensing system intended for use around brigade- and division-level command-post nodes and other locations where electromagnetic emissions can reveal the presence of a formation. Army officials said that one system consists of two nodes and also includes handheld detection features.

The equipment is described as heavy but portable by two soldiers. It can also be attached to a vehicle or mounted on a tripod, allowing the sensing equipment to be positioned according to the requirements of the command post or operating area.

S2AS detects and analyzes signals in the local electromagnetic environment and provides information to spectrum managers and commanders. The system can identify friendly emissions such as cell-phone signals or radio transmissions that are inconsistent with established emission procedures. After an unwanted emission is identified, signal personnel can locate its source physically or, when the electromagnetic environment permits, communicate information about it through the command-and-control system.

The system does not jam or suppress detected emissions. Its function is to provide visibility and information that personnel can use to correct electromagnetic-signature problems and manage spectrum use.

Command-post role

Command posts can produce substantial electromagnetic signatures because of their concentration of communications and electronic equipment. S2AS is intended to measure these emissions and provide commanders with a real-time view of the electromagnetic environment around friendly positions.

The system supports emission-control measures by showing which frequencies, systems, power levels, and bandwidths are being used. This information can help commanders and spectrum managers assess whether friendly activity is creating an unnecessarily visible electromagnetic signature.

Program status

S2AS underwent Army user assessment in 2025 and was scheduled for initial operational fielding in fiscal year 2026. In August 2026, the Army stated that the first nine systems were scheduled for delivery to prioritized units in September 2026.

The Army expected the delivered inventory to reach 46 systems by July 2027. Continued soldier feedback and experimentation were intended to support further refinement of the capability.

Specifications (Spectrum Situational Awareness System)

General characteristics

• Developer: 3dB Labs
• Role: Electromagnetic-spectrum situational awareness and friendly-emission detection
• System configuration: Two nodes per system
• Portability: Portable by two soldiers
• Mounting options: Vehicle or tripod mounting
• Additional configuration: Handheld detection features

Functions

• Sensing: Detects electromagnetic emitters in the operating environment
• Analysis: Detects and analyzes signals for spectrum-management use
• Reporting: Provides emitter information to commanders and spectrum managers
• Friendly-emission monitoring: Identifies signals such as cell-phone or radio emissions that may violate friendly emission procedures
• Suppression capability: None stated; the system identifies emissions rather than suppressing them

Additional information on Army testing and the intended role of S2AS is available from the Army program office. Details of the August 2026 fielding plan were reported by DefenseScoop.