18: Spectrum Dominance: Why Modern Wars Stall Without Electronic Warfare Superiority

This conversation explores why modern warfare doesn't start with a trigger pull but with sensing, jamming and deceiving across invisible frequencies.From a dramatic moment when Mike's jamming system neutralized an enemy radar in under a second, to the strategic paralysis unfolding in Ukraine, this episode unpacks why whoever owns the spectrum owns the fight.In this episode of Allies in Innovation, host Mikkel Svold speaks with Mike Cocke, Senior Director of Business Development for Self-Protection Systems at Terma and former commander of the US Air Force's 350th Spectrum Warfare Group. With nearly 24 years flying B-52 bombers and leading electronic warfare operations, Mike brings firsthand experience from the sharp edge of a battlefield most people never see: the electromagnetic spectrum.In the episode, you'll learn about:Why spectrum dominance is the foundation for air superiority and ground operationsHow electronic warfare evolved from World War II radar countermeasures to software-defined systemsWhat the Ukraine conflict reveals about modern electromagnetic stalemateWhy the shift from kill chains to kill webs changes everything about aircraft survivabilityHow AI will likely replace human electronic warfare officers in future combatWhy defense acquisition processes must accept new risks to keep pace with rapidly evolving threatsEpisode Content:00:00 Opening: A real encounter with an enemy radar and instant countermeasures03:07 What electronic warfare actually is and why most people have never heard of it05:04 Self-protection systems on the B-52: Mike's role keeping the aircraft alive08:28 What happens when your jamming systems fail12:21 Spectrum dominance explained through the lens of World War I parallels15:27 The reality on the ground in Ukraine: no GPS, no communications, isolated command18:06 The birth of electronic warfare and the October 1959 turning point22:28 Software-defined radios and why the threat landscape changes overnight 26:47 Why proven technology and slow acquisition create new risks 29:51 Kill chains versus kill webs: the networking of sixth-generation aircraft 34:05 Why AI will become the future electronic warfare officer 37:15 Final thoughts: learning from history and making decisions with incomplete information ProductionThis podcast is brought to you by Terma. This podcast is produced by Montanus.