This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
Modern battlefields increasingly depend on wireless connectivity. Aircraft, drones, satellites, and ground units all rely on radio-frequency signals for navigation, communication, and coordination. Yet that same dependence has created a vulnerability. Jamming, spoofing, and other forms of electromagnetic interference can disrupt operations without a single kinetic strike. Detecting and understanding these invisible threats in real time remains a major challenge.
A new software-driven approach, by Tenna, which recently raised $13.5 million seed funding, aims to address that gap by turning existing platforms into a distributed sensing network. Instead of deploying additional hardware, the system leverages sensors already embedded in connected aircraft, drones, and other assets. By aggregating their data, it builds a live map of the electromagnetic environment, identifying anomalies and interference within a range of roughly 50 to 200 meters.
The concept treats every connected device as both a user and a sensor. When interference occurs, the platform correlates signals from multiple nodes to detect coverage gaps, identify suspicious activity, and in some cases trace the source of disruption. Because it operates as a software layer on top of existing emitters and receivers, it avoids the cost and complexity associated with dedicated electronic-warfare hardware installations.
The technology is structured into three core functions. One module monitors real-time spectrum conditions and highlights disruptions. A second seeks to pinpoint the origin of interference to enable mitigation. A third acts as embedded protection software, designed to preserve operational continuity when networks are contested. Together, these capabilities aim to provide early warning and maintain resilience in environments where wireless conditions can shift rapidly.
As adversaries increasingly use low-cost jammers or spoofing techniques to degrade GPS and communications, the ability to visualize and respond to spectrum threats becomes critical. A software-based solution that scales across fleets without new hardware could enhance situational awareness while reducing deployment time.
The approach also has relevance for civilian infrastructure. Airports, emergency services, and critical facilities rely on stable wireless systems that are equally vulnerable to interference. A shared, real-time map of the electromagnetic domain could support faster identification of disruptions in both military and civil contexts.
By focusing on software rather than specialized equipment, the platform reflects a broader shift in electronic warfare. In contested spectrum environments, understanding the invisible battlespace may be as important as defending the physical one.
