In a key step forward for NATO’s capabilities in electromagnetic warfare, a new prototype sensor, developed by the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) completed a key round of testing. The system, called GANDALF 4, has successfully undergone series of tests in a specialized testing facility at the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
Developed by experts in the NCIA’s Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) Centre, the GANDALF system is designed to detect, classify, and locate intentional attempts to disrupt or deceive Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. These threats, known as GNSS jamming and spoofing, are becoming more common and sophisticated, posing a real threat to NATO’s operational readiness and resilience. GANDALF-4 represents a proactive and innovative approach to developing situational awareness in contested spectrum environments.
This latest testing round focuses on the sensor’ antenna performance and was held in the same NSPA advanced anechoic chamber facility. The chamber, operated by NSPA, allows for highly controlled testing without outside interference, precise calibration and detailed performance assessment of the GANDALF-4 antenna array, an essential step in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the system.
The collaboration between NCIA Electromagnetic Warfare and Surveillance (EW&S) team and NSPA’s Ground Based Defence (GBD) group of experts has been key, enabling valuable knowledge transfer and efficiency gains which contributed to achieve the campaign objectives.
This collaboration showcases the strength of NATO partnerships in accelerating the development of cutting-edge technologies. Prototyping, testing, and trial preparation demand not only technical expertise but also close inter-agency coordination. The continued success of these campaigns highlights the value of NCIA’s relationship with NSPA, which remains key to NATO’s ability to rapidly develop and validate next-generation capabilities.
Together, NCIA and NSPA continue to drive innovation, ensuring NATO maintains technological superiority in an increasingly complex electromagnetic environment.
