Combining signal intelligence, AI, and offboard countermeasures, Elbit’s Aqua Marine and Deseaver systems aim to defend fleets against missiles, drones, and radar-guided attacks.

By David Brummer

As global naval threats grow more complex, Elbit Systems has introduced a next-generation electronic warfare suite that adapts in real time—blending intelligence gathering, active defenses, and AI-powered decision-making to keep fleets secure.

Responding to a surge in high-tech maritime threats—from radar-guided missiles to drone swarms—Israel’s Elbit Systems has unveiled an advanced suite of electronic warfare (EW) tools to protect naval vessels in contested waters.

The new system, combining Aqua Marine™ and Deseaver technologies, debuted as a comprehensive, layered shield capable of detecting, disrupting, and diverting incoming attacks.

Recent incidents—such as drone strikes near key ports and missile attacks on commercial ships—underscore how modern threats outpace traditional naval defenses.

Elbit’s solution blends signal intelligence (SIGINT) with active countermeasures, ensuring ships can defend themselves from a range of dangers, including UAS (unmanned aerial systems) and electronic warfare tactics.

“Aqua Marine and Deseaver form a coordinated defense system that adapts to real-time battlefield conditions,” said Danny, Senior Director of Naval SIGINT & EW Solutions at Elbit.

“They work in tandem to anticipate and neutralize threats before they strike.”

Aqua Marine, the core of the suite, is an integrated electronic warfare system combining passive surveillance and active response tools.

It continuously scans the electromagnetic environment for threats, identifying anomalies and collecting critical SIGINT data.

By integrating radar electronic support measures (RESM) and communication intelligence (CISM), Aqua Marine enables early threat identification and precise situational awareness.

When a threat is confirmed, the Deseaver system provides an active response from offboard launchers, deploying countermeasures to misdirect missiles and radar-guided projectiles.

This cooperative approach enhances the ship’s survivability and confuses incoming systems, particularly in scenarios involving multiple simultaneous attacks.

AI plays a key role in the system’s effectiveness.

Elbit has embedded artificial intelligence into Aqua Marine to process massive volumes of data rapidly and optimize response strategies.

“AI allows us to stay one step ahead,” Danny noted. “It learns from each interaction, improving its speed and accuracy with every new threat.”

Another vital component is interoperability with unmanned systems.

Aqua Marine and Deseaver can integrate with both aerial and surface unmanned platforms, expanding surveillance and response capabilities far beyond the vessel’s immediate surroundings.

This networked approach strengthens maritime situational awareness and allows for distributed defense.

Elbit’s latest offering builds on decades of field-proven naval EW experience.

Designed with evolving threats in mind, Aqua Marine and Deseaver are modular, scalable, and ready for integration across a variety of ship classes.

“With today’s threat landscape changing so rapidly, navies need systems that not only respond, but anticipate and evolve,” Danny concluded.

“Elbit’s EW solutions offer that edge—keeping vessels secure and mission-ready, even in the world’s most contested waters.”