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As the Royal Australian Navy marks its 125th anniversary, the role of industry partners in strengthening the nation’s maritime capability has never been more critical. DEWC Services, a long-standing contributor to Navy mission success, continues to demonstrate how trusted partnerships, deep C4ISREW expertise and outcome-driven delivery support warfighters operating in increasingly complex electromagnetic environments.
DEWC Services Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Navy veteran Rian Whitby captures this focus clearly. “Our value really lies in translating complex information domain problems into operationally relevant outcomes and straddling that domain between conventional electronic warfare and enabling cyber capabilities.” This includes self-protection, surveillance, countermeasures and enabling areas such as cyber warfare.
This operational focus reflects the growing need for integrated support across the electromagnetic spectrum as Navy platforms encounter more sophisticated systems, more emitters and increasingly contested air and maritime environments.
Sustained support across Navy platforms and programs
DEWC has supported the Australian Defence Force for more than 15 years and has delivered over a decade of continuous support to the MH-60R Romeo helicopter’s survivability functions, as well as work across Navy programs including electronic surveillance, countermeasures development, NULKA sustainment and capability upgrades.
These established programs form the basis of DEWC’s growing work in areas such as sense-making, experimentation and AI-supported wargaming.
“It’s really based on that foundation of leveraging the operational expertise and pedigree that we’ve carried from our core lines of business into those growing areas,” Whitby noted.
Whitby said DEWC does not attempt to provide sweeping solutions to spectrum congestion but seeks to enable operation in those environments.
“For us, the focus is really just recognising that those are characteristics of the modern operating environment and we are focused on supporting a short operation in that domain… such as mission design through enabling operational adaptation.”
This approach is reinforced through DEWC’s involvement in complex countermeasures testing with domestic and allied partners. These activities allow Navy crews to test, adjust and improve capabilities under realistic conditions, reflecting the long-standing principle that, as former Chief of Navy Admiral Barrett said, forces must train as they fight.
Preparing Navy for modern electromagnetic threats
Contemporary conflicts continue to demonstrate how challenging the electromagnetic environment has become for naval operations. Whitby said recent events show a clear shift in expectations for spectrum access, noting that “There’s a collective recognition that total dominance is not really a thing anymore. The dominance that guaranteed early success in the first or second Gulf Wars, certainly during the initial campaigns, it is not something that can be achieved in the modern operating environment.”
Modern operations now depend on securing limited windows of operational freedom, supported by layered electromagnetic effects. Whitby pointed to US activity in Venezuela where a stack of capabilities created a layered defence and allowed operation across assets in a short period of time.
DEWC notes their contribution to the preparation of Navy’s future capabilities through collaboration under AUKUS Pillar 2 for advanced systems. This work promotes digital first approaches, well-defined interfaces and modular open architectures so capability can evolve over time. As Whitby put it, DEWC supports approaches that “look to both exploit commonality within our own systems as well as operate with allies through module open architectures.”
These measures allow Defence to upgrade systems more rapidly, maintain interoperability and adapt more effectively to modern electromagnetic threats.
Strengthening sovereign capability through people and purpose
Workforce depth remains one of the most significant constraints across Defence and Whitby was clear that this challenge represents the most critical gap facing Defence today.
DEWC is addressing this challenge by investing in long-term workforce development rather than relying on short-term contracting. The company provides permanent, secure roles that support stability and career progression, and has established pathways designed to grow skilled practitioners over time. This includes graduate and internship pathways, recruitment from aligned industries and the use of bespoke skills frameworks to build niche expertise that contributes to national capability rather than drawing from existing ADF workforce pools.
Whitby also highlighted the importance of culture in retaining and developing people who understand Defence’s operational context. He recalled advice he received early in his time at DEWC when a senior leader told him, “I want you to do what’s right for Defence because doing what’s right for Defence is what’s right for us long term.”
He said this values-driven approach enables veterans to transition into industry without losing their sense of purpose and reinforces DEWC’s commitment to strengthening sovereign capability.
As the electromagnetic environment grows more contested and threats continue to evolve, Navy requires partners able to deliver practical, reliable and operationally relevant outcomes. With long term program involvement, advanced experimentation support and a mission focused workforce, DEWC Services continues to reinforce Navy readiness and ensure warfighters can operate safely and effectively.
