Cracking the Spectrum Code
E-LynX™ radios are innovating tactical communication, blending AI, multi-channel connectivity, and shared architecture to turn limited spectrum into new possibilities.
The spectrum is finite, yet every year the battlefield demands more of it – voice, video, autonomous systems, and logistics data all competing within the same limited bands. Elbit Systems’ answer is to build radios that think, adapt, and learn. Leading this effort is Neta, who has spent nearly two decades shaping the architectures behind next-generation tactical communications.
When Neta joined Elbit Systems in 2007, she brought with her the analytical mindset of a physicist and the rigor of an electrical engineer. Over the years, she transitioned from algorithm development to modem design, and later into RF engineering. Today, as Vice President of R&D for radio technologies, she leads the development of multi-channel E-LynX family, AI-powered communication systems built for the most demanding operational environments.
At the center of this evolution is the latest generation of the E-LynX™ radio family – a platform that supports simultaneous links across cellular, satellite, ground, and airborne SDR networks. Unlike legacy radios locked into a single mode, the multi-channel E-LynX™ can transmit and receive across multiple bands at once. “The convergence of civilian technologies with tactical systems is a trend that continues to accelerate across modern conflicts,” Neta says.
Smarter Spectrum, Leaner Architecture
The battlefield is saturated with data, but spectrum remains limited. To address this imbalance, Elbit is embedding intelligence directly into its radios. Features like spectrum sensing, AI-based waveform adaptation, and full duplex capabilities enable multiple users to share frequencies without interference. “It’s all about getting more services into a narrow slice of the spectrum,” says Neta.
This leap is made possible by a shared software architecture that spans platforms. Whether it’s a soldier’s handheld device, a drone, or a robotic unit, the same waveforms can run smoothly across systems. Radios that once carried only voice traffic now simultaneously transmit situational awareness data, video streams, and drone control – enabling a new kind of multidimensional connectivity.
Towards the Learning Radio
Looking ahead, Neta envisions a self-learning radio – a system that configures itself automatically to any environment. “You want a radio that finds its parameters on its own, wherever you throw it,” she explains. The goal is maximum flexibility without manual tuning – essential for the ever-changing conditions of modern combat.
Reaching that goal isn’t without challenges. Engineers must carefully define which elements should remain uniform across systems and which can adapt. They also need to build architectures that endure for decades – far beyond commercial tech lifecycles – while balancing constraints like power consumption, encryption, and power management. “You want to raise performance and adapt to new technologies at the same hardware platform that was developed a decade ago. That’s something the civilian world doesn’t usually face,” Neta notes.
Lessons from the Battlefield
Recent conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, have reinforced the need for resilient, multi-channel communications. Elbit has embedded these lessons into the latest E-LynX™ design, optimizing for capacity, range, and reliability. While commercial telecoms are still cautious about adopting AI at the infrastructure level, Elbit is leading its integration into tactical networks – enhancing compression, routing, and algorithmic performance directly within the radio.
Single-channel E-LynX™ radios are already deployed by multiple armies. The next milestone is completing the development of the multi-channel system allowing a full echo system of hybrid networks. With it, Elbit aims to deliver secure, adaptive, and future-ready communications across all levels of the battlefield – transforming spectrum limitations into new opportunities for connectivity.
