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PESCO Highlight: Electromagnetic warfare capability and interoperability programme for future joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (JISR)

Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)

11 September 2025

As part of our ongoing PESCO Highlight series, we turn the focus to the 'Electromagnetic Warfare Capability and Interoperability Programme for Future Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance' (JISR) project. This initiative, led under the framework of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), brings together the expertise and commitment of participating Member States to strengthen Europe's defence and intelligence capabilities.

The project, which is in its closing phase, focused on conducting a broad feasibility study in the field of Electronic Warfare (EW). Over the course of the work, experts reviewed the EW capabilities of the participating PESCO Member States, pinpointing gaps and producing a set of recommendations on how to strengthen cooperation and make systems more interoperable for future operations.

In this special Q&A, project coordinators share their insights:

1. What contributed to project successes, and what was the added value of developing it within the PESCO framework?

The project's success was driven by multinational collaboration, as multiple EU Member States contributed to a comprehensive evaluation of their EW capabilities. A structured methodology, incorporating data collection, consultations with stakeholders, and scenario analysis, ensured the feasibility study's thoroughness. The PESCO framework added value by enhancing interoperability through structured defence cooperation among participating states.

2. Are there any specific deliverables that you are particularly proud of?

One key achievement was the comprehensive feasibility study mentioned above, which examined existing EW capabilities and identified critical gaps, laying the groundwork for a potential joint EU EW force. The study's recommendations are essential for enhancing the EU's competitiveness in EW.

3. How about the communication strategy for this project?

Effective communication was at the heart of the project's success, ensuring that all stakeholders — from experts to policymakers — agreed on objectives, findings, and next steps. The strategy combined international workshops, online coordination, and formal reporting to the Ministries of Defence. Updates were also shared through EDA.

4. Which phase of the project was the most challenging?

Gathering accurate, comparable data on EW capabilities from different nations was not always easy, due to existing classification levels, doctrines, and technological approaches. The COVID-19 pandemic added further obstacles by restricting travel and limiting in-person workshops, forcing heavy reliance on virtual coordination, which sometimes hindered deep technical discussions. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine also influenced the project: key team members were reassigned to other urgent tasks, while the shifting security landscape emphasised the growing importance of EW in modern conflicts. On top of that, the rapid emergence of new EW technologies required continuous updates to keep the feasibility study relevant. While these challenges disrupted the project, they also reinforced the need for enhanced EU-wide EW capabilities and demonstrated the value of flexible, resilient multinational defence cooperation.

5. What lessons did you learn?

Standardised data-sharing mechanisms between EU Member States are essential for improving future defence cooperation projects, especially when aligning with NATO doctrines to enhance interoperability. Agreeing on common objectives early on, such as a shared definition of a "joint EW capability," helps streamline decision-making and ensure that EU defence policies complement NATO strategies. While the feasibility study provides valuable insights into capability gaps and potential solutions, securing funding and political commitment is crucial to turn recommendations into concrete policies. In the long term, aligning EU defence initiatives with NATO doctrines through structured cooperation, follow-up, and policy adaptation will be critical for successful European defence integration.