Course Details
Aspiration Versus Reality: Russia’s Electronic Warfare Posture – Past, Present, and Future | AOC Europe 2026 Pre-Convention Course
Course Dates: 18 May 2026 | 08:00 – 17:00
Course Location: Messukeskus Helsinki/Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre
Course Length: 7 hours total delivered across one course; one hour break for lunch
Description: Russia places electronic warfare (EW) front and centre of its military thinking and practice at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of war across the entire spectrum of conflict. EW is a fundamental aspect of Russian military doctrine. The country pioneered EW during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 and continues to celebrate the achievements of its EW cadres annually on 15 April.
More than 120 years after this conflict, Russian EW forces continue to contest the spectrum in the Ukrainian theatre of operations as the war continues. Regardless of the conflict’s outcome, Russia will maintain a strong reliance on EW in its future military posture.
This course will provide EW practitioners, policymakers, academics, and industry professionals with an understanding of the central role of electronic warfare in Russian military thinking and its implications for NATO and allied nations. The course will explore the legacy of Russian and Soviet EW, including its use in post-Cold War conflicts in Chechnya, Georgia, and Syria.
It will also examine how Russia has employed EW in Ukraine since the initial invasion in 2014, and how Ukrainian forces have resisted efforts to achieve electromagnetic superiority at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. The course will conclude with an assessment of how Russia might employ EW in a hypothetical conflict with NATO, as well as future trends in its military, industrial, and science and technology development.
Audience: This course is intended for electronic warfare practitioners across sea, land, air, space, and cyberspace domains. It is also relevant to individuals involved in EW policy and those working in public sector organizations such as ministries of defence and procurement bodies.
Additional audiences include:
- Academic and think tank communities, particularly those focused on science and technology related to EW
- Individuals in war studies, military education, strategic studies, military history, and international relations
- Members of the EW industrial community, especially those involved in future product and capability development
Questions related to the pre-convention course and/or its content can be directed to [email protected].
This course will be held before AOC Europe 2026 at the Messukeskus Helsinki/Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre.
Learning Objectives
- Outcome 1: An appreciation of the central role of electronic warfare in Russian military thinking.
- Outcome 2: An understanding of how Russia’s EW posture differs from that of NATO and allied nations, and the implications of these differences.
- Outcome 3: Insight into Russia’s science, technology, and industrial base, and how it impacts its ability to challenge NATO and allied forces in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Registration
Please note: To attend a course, you must be registered for AOC Europe 2026. Course registration is available as part of the main event registration process – simply select the course when completing your event registration.
*Course Pricing
AOC Members – $1,100/€1.010,00
Non-Members – $1,250/€1.070,00
On-Site Pricing
AOC Members – $1,250/€1.070,00
Non-Members – $1,450/€1.250,00
Lunch is included in the registration cost.
Questions related to pre-con registration can be directed to Samantha Kim, Professional Development Coordinator, at [email protected].
*Course registration includes lunch and morning coffee/tea.
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AOC Professional Development On-Site Event Cancellation Policy
To cancel a pre-conference course or on-site event registration, submit a written request at least two (2) weeks before the scheduled event via email to [email protected]. Phone cancellations are not accepted. Cancellations received less than two (2) weeks prior to the event will not receive a refund.
- Approved, requested refunds will be issued minus a $100 administrative fee.
- If the registration fee includes materials (e.g., textbooks, printed content) that were pre-purchased or developed before the event, registrants will be invoiced for these items that will include the cost of the material (s), shipping, taxes, and any customs fees, if applicable. Once paid in full, materials will be shipped. Payment must be received within 14 days of the date when the invoice is sent. Invoices not paid within the 14-day window will be subject to additional late fees.
- No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within two weeks of the event or for no-shows.
- If a registered attendee is having trouble obtaining a visa, a written notification must be sent no less than 30 days prior to the course/on-site event to [email protected]. Refunds related to visa obtainment will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Instructor
Dr. Thomas Withington is an award-winning analyst and writer specializing in electronic warfare, radar, and military communications. He is a Research Associate at the Royal United Services Institute and a Senior Non-Resident Associate Fellow at the NATO Defence College.
He has written extensively on these subjects for a wide range of specialist and general publications and serves as a consultant and adviser to leading government and private sector clients. Dr. Withington regularly conducts fieldwork in operational theatres, including Ukraine, the Middle East, and the southern Mediterranean.
He also provides expert commentary on security and defence issues related to the electromagnetic spectrum for major global media organizations.
