The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has developed the Digital RF Battlespace Emulator (DRBE), the “world’s largest” virtual radio frequency test range for electronic warfare (EW).
Designed for scale and realism, the system can simulate complex EW scenarios that traditional modeling or open-air trials can’t match.
It also enables the Pentagon to develop, test, and train next-gen RF and AI-enabled EW capabilities in a fully software-defined environment, accelerating large-scale capability development.
At its core, a real-time wafer-scale computing architecture powered by the world’s largest processor, delivering massive throughput and ultra-low latency for precisely timed EW simulations.
“DRBE is a leap forward in how we can prepare and equip RF systems against sophisticated adversaries,” said Anna Tauke-Pedretti, DRBE program manager.
“DRBE is not only setting a new benchmark for real-time simulation but is also accelerating our ability to develop and refine advanced electronic warfare capabilities that keep pace with emerging threats.”
Scaling Up the Range
DARPA is now working to expand the DRBE architecture to handle even larger and more complex scenarios.
The next phase will add cutting-edge optical interconnects, significantly increasing bandwidth and enabling scalable links between hundreds of wafer-scale computers.
The upgrades are expected to unlock larger-scale RF simulations and extend DRBE’s architecture to other mission areas, including battlespace autonomy, materials science, and digital twin technology.
“DRBE isn’t just a test tool; it has the potential to be a strategic enabler for next-generation defense technologies,” said Tauke-Pedretti.
“By pushing the boundaries of real-time emulation and compute, we’re laying the groundwork for smarter, faster, and more resilient EW systems.”
The first DRBE system is set to transition to a US Navy lab in late 2025, where it will integrate into the Pentagon’s broader test and evaluation network.
