Welcome to Helsinki!

Since 2010, the PLATH Intelligence Day has preceded the AOC Europe symposium with an event that aims to bring together professionals from government, defence, industry, and academia to discuss the latest developments with their peers and to receive expert presentations on select EW- and SIGINT-related topics. This year's main topic is "Closing the Gap – Meshed Unmanned EW Core."

It is interesting to note that the 2015 PLATH Intelligence Workshop included a presentation about the then-novel threat posed by "mini-drones" and how to counter them. Just over a decade later, military forces around the globe are fully committed to integrating unmanned systems into air, land, and sea operations, as well as countering these increasingly capable threats.

As we approach the mid-point of 2026, Europe continues to draw lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Among the most important of these lessons is the central role of electromagnetic operations (EMO), especially with regard to UAS and counter-UAS operations.

This morning's session will focus on "Solving New Frontline Challenges" by discussing topics such as critical infrastructure protection using CEMA-enabled unmanned systems, rethinking UAS for modern operations, and ways that RF convergence can enable meshed multi-domain reconnaissance.

The afternoon session will address "Expanding the Operational Picture for Improved Site Protection," with topics such as software defined threat detection and verification with aerial multi sensor systems, the future of land EW in multi-domain warfare; and new challenges for MALE drones in multi-layer EW operations.

We hope you are looking forward to an informative day with us. 
– JED staff

One important way that electromagnetic operations (EMO) has evolved over the past few years is the sheer scale of EW and SIGINT systems that are needed. Looking at the Russo-Ukraine War as an example, both sides have not only redefined the pace of battlefield adaption in their drone and counter-drone operations, but they have also set new expectations for using the EME to deliver mass precision effects.

Until 2022, the idea of "mass" describing "precision effects" would have been considered a contradiction. Precision weapons were manufactured at the rate of hundreds or perhaps low thousands per year, at best. The Russo-Ukrainian War has changed the calculus. Last year, Ukraine produced more than 4 million drones, most of which were expendable precision weapons, and it aims to produce more than 7 million this year. We're not only talking about mass production of the drones themselves; we're also talking about the mass production of EO-IR sensors, secure RF command links and datalinks, and GNSS receivers, because each drone has one or more of those systems in its baseline configuration. Some of these drones carry ESM sensors and jammers, too. This is the scale of 21st century warfare.

At AOC 2025 in December, one keynote speaker observed that EW and SIGINT capabilities are undergoing a transition from "exquisite" (i.e., RC-135, EA-37B, EA-18G and even F-35) to "mass." An audience member knowingly asked the question, "Is there a place for non-exquisite EMSO?"

During AOC Europe this week, I hope to learn more about how European nations will pursue "mass" in their EW and SIGINT capabilities, and what are the implications for areas such as manufacturing, unit training and force level exercises, EW reprogramming, and electromagnetic battle management, to name a few. How will these nations integrate "exquisite" EW and SIGINT capabilities with "non-exquisite" capabilities to generate the widest possible range of effects? How does the EW community describe this growing breadth of EMO capabilities to the operational commander and help integrate them into the mission planning process? On the other side of the coin, how do European nations defend against "mass?"

I have no doubts that Europe's EW community will arrive at the right answers. However, Europe's most significant regional threat is already several years into a war that has forced it down the path of pursuing "mass precision effects." This is a very dangerous head start, and European nations will need to catch up and quickly overcome the many challenges that emerge from incorporating mass into our EW arsenals.
– J. Knowles

Review the online schedule of events and symposium agenda to finalize your on-site agenda.
Check out the floor plan and search for an exhibitor and make plans to visit the companies you wish to connect with.

Get out your phone and download the AOC Europe 2026 app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn and use #AOCEUROPE2026 to join in the conversation.

NEW! AI translation now being offered during sessions at AOC Europe. Visit aoceurope.org/translate for more information, including which languages are available and how to access the app.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – Tuesday 19 May – PLATH Intelligence Day

Please note: PLATH Intelligence Day is strictly limited to those who registered in advance. Only those who preregistered for PLATH Intelligence Day will be allowed access to the programme.

Official Expo Hall hours during the AOC Europe 2026:

Wednesday 20 May
08:00 – 17:00
Join us in the Expo Hall for a morning coffee break (10:20 – 10:50), lunch (12:20 – 13:20) and afternoon refreshment break (14:50 – 15:20).

Thursday 21 May
08:30 – 17:00
Join us in the Expo Hall for a morning coffee break (10:30 – 11:00), lunch (12:30 – 13:30) and afternoon refreshment break (15:00 – 15:25). 

Today – PLATH Intelligence Day: As a prelude to AOC Europe 2026, PLATH is once again inviting visitors to this year's Intelligence Day. PLATH Intelligence Day will focus this year on the main topic “Closing the Gap – Meshed Unmanned EW Core.” It will be discussed with the impulses from various expert contributions in two sessions: 1. Solving new frontline challenges. 2. Expanding the operational picture for improved site protection. Gregor Zowierucha, CEO, PLATH GmbH & Co KG, will offer the opening and welcoming words at 09:30. Oberst i.G. Puschnig, German Armed Forces, Task Force UKR, will deliver the day's keynote at 09:45.

Wednesday 20 May – The Welcome and Symposium Keynote Address starts at 09:00 on the Main Stage and will feature Dr. Bob Andrews, MBE, AOC Director of European Programmes & Conferences, Anthony (Tony) Lisuzzo, AOC President, and Lieutenant Colonel Erik Bamford, AOC International Region 1 Director. The symposium keynote will be delivered by Brigadier General Juha-Matti Ylitalo, Deputy Chief of Logistics, Command/Chief Engineer of Finnish Defence Forces, Finland. After that, a representative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will speak about the Challenges of Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority in the Ukraine.

Thursday 21 May – Commander Malte von Spreckelsen, DEU CYBER and INFORMATION Domain Command, Germany, will kick off the final day of AOC Europe 2026 on the Main Stage beginning at 09:00. 

More details are available in the full agenda.

Read the May issue of JED

Cover Story: Shaping the Future of European EMSO
Feature Story: The Spectrum Will Not Wait – EW Superiority Depends on Reprogramming Speed
CogEW: From Alphabet Soup to Cognitive EW
News: UK Lifts Veil on EREBUS DAS Flight Testbed
EW 101: Space EW Part 12 – Intercept from Space (Contd.)

Read the full issue now and read more each week at JEDOnline.com.

The Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED) is the official publication of AOC and available exclusively to members. Become an AOC member to get access to the latest issue of JED, along with our extensive archive library.

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