Trends in radar and electronic warfare technologies and their influence on the electromagnetic spectrum evolution

In this short overview we review some of the main technological developments that influenced the way radars and EW systems evolved. These developments also yielded evolution of the electromagnetic spectrum: today it is much more agile and complicated than what it used to be 50 years ago, and the pace of changes is accelerating. Although modern radars pose growing challenges and with it the operational requirements from the EW systems are getting more demanding, certain enabling technologies allow the EW designers to keep the pace. Part of the coping is expressed by broadening the covered spectrum. Lastly we try to foresee what emerging trends will take the EW world to the next step.