The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced plans to construct one of the largest specialist anechoic chambers in Europe to test military assets, such as F-35 jets and Chinook helicopters, against electronic warfare (EW) threats, including GPS jamming. The facility, dubbed the “silent hangar,” will be built by British defense firm QinetiQ at the Boscombe Down site in Wiltshire, under a £20 million (US$26 million) contract.
Scheduled for completion in 2026, the anechoic chamber will be designed to absorb radio frequency waves, eliminating echoes and preventing interference with external systems. This isolated environment will allow the MoD to replicate hostile electromagnetic conditions and test the resilience of military equipment to electronic warfare tactics, such as those used to disrupt GPS signals and other critical systems.
The hangar will be large enough to accommodate a variety of military platforms, including armored vehicles, MQ-9B Protector drones, Chinook helicopters, and F-35 fighter jets. It will feature advanced GPS simulators and threat emulators, enabling the safe recreation of challenging environments for comprehensive testing.
Maria Eagle, the UK’s Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, emphasized the importance of the facility in ensuring the integrity of the UK’s military platforms. “This cutting-edge test facility will help us eliminate vulnerabilities from our platforms,” she said, highlighting the increasing threat of GPS jamming observed in conflicts such as the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Richard Bloomfield, head of Electronic Warfare Space at the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), noted that the chamber would be “one of the most up-to-date and high-tech in the world,” playing a crucial role in maintaining the effectiveness of UK military equipment in the face of evolving electronic warfare challenges.
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