Cryptologic Electronic Warfare Support (CrEWS)®
It all began with an idea to extend tactical situational awareness of the electromagnetic environment - not only within each ship but across the different surface and airborne surveillance platforms participating within designated geographically defined Operational Areas (OPAREAs).
Currently, shipboard Electronic Warfare (EW) Modules are outfitted with a single SLQ-32 operator console. Depending on the ship’s configuration a companion watchstanding console might be available for the EW Module Supervisor, which helps, but electronic access to supplementary information is necessary to address the evolving needs of the EW watchstanding team around the clock. The watch standers Observe the electromagnetic spectrum 24/7/365 using organic and non-organic assets, Orienting themselves to maintain operational and tactical Situational Awareness and make informed Decisions, and subsequently Act on those insights. This OODA Loop is repeated throughout their watch. The aim is to tighten the OODA Loop supporting real-time mission execution needs.
Similar mission execution needs are faced by airborne sensor operators interacting with the ALQ-210 carried aboard MH-60R (Romeo) Seahawk helicopters; Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) interacting with the ALQ-217 integrated into the E-2D Hawkeye aircraft; naval aviators interactions with the ALQ-240 installed aboard the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft; Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs) strapped into the EA-18G Growler. Beyond these manned platforms, Sensor Operators interacting the MQ-4C Triton’s ZLQ-1 from their shore-based Unmanned Aircraft System Mission Control System (MCS), could leverage this same technology without impacting subsystems within their Program of Record.
CrEWS® mobile apps run natively on iOS and iPadOS devices (iPhone 13, iPad mini and iPad Pro shown above)
The Missing Layer in Fleet EW Modernization
CrEWS® provides the operator-facing, transport-agnostic, platform-independent capability that the Navy’s existing EW programs lack:
It does not replace legacy consoles.
It does not require rewriting Programs of Record.
It does not conflict with operational doctrine.
It elevates every EW operator, regardless of air, surface or subsurface platform - manned or unmanned.
CrEWS makes the Navy’s distributed EW architecture coherent, unified, predictive, and tactically actionable.
CrEWS: Mobile Tactical Awareness for Air, Surface, and Expeditionary Forces
The CrEWS mobile application runs natively on Apple iPads, which are already widely used across naval aviation as Electronic Kneeboards during unclassified operations. CrEWS expands on this familiar workflow by addressing the Fleet’s emerging need for secure, mobile access to classified information at the Tactical Edge. Through our Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Navy, we are helping define the technical and operational pathways required to enable the authorized use of modern mobile and edge-computing devices in classified environments.
Optimized for Cockpits, Sensor Operators, Shipboard and Operations Center Watch Teams
CrEWS integrates directly into existing cockpit and shipboard workflows without requiring modifications to procedures or legacy systems. ES and ESM operators aboard P-8A aircraft, MH-60R detachments, E-2D crews, and shipboard watch teams gain real-time situational-awareness tools at the point of action. Tablets can be mounted at aircraft mission stations or CIC consoles, supporting real-time cueing, geolocation, and threat awareness during demanding operations.
As Electronic Kneeboard (EKB) workflows evolve toward supporting classified employment, CrEWS enables naval aviators and shipboard personnel who are not actively manning a console to maintain continuous, mission-relevant awareness. This includes TACCOs, AWOs and AWRs, CIC Watch Supervisors, TAOs, and other supervisory roles who benefit from having timely information readily accessible while moving throughout the aircraft or ship. Support for Android-based tablets is planned to broaden CrEWS availability across the Fleet and extend these capabilities to a wider set of user communities.
ZTEG™ Services: Secure, Flexible Delivery of Software and Data Updates
CrEWS software updates and authoritative data products are delivered through containerized ZTEG Services. These services operate on compact ZTEG edge nodes or run on existing computing platforms, including laptops, virtualized environments, and ruggedized server infrastructure aboard ships or within TOCs and MOCs. This flexible deployment approach avoids the need for specialized hardware and ensures that operators remain equipped with the latest tools, even when communications are constrained or intermittent.
Local Tactical Support for CrEWS Mobile Operators
ZTEG Services also function as local mission servers at the Tactical Edge. They provide CrEWS-equipped mobile devices with time-sensitive mission data, software updates, policy and threat library updates, and mapping resources, all without requiring continuous cloud connectivity. This local servicing capability ensures predictable performance and reliability for aircrews, as well as shipboard and shore-based watch standers across distributed maritime operations locations.
Autonomous Synchronization With IL-6 Infrastructure
ZTEG Services are engineered to automatically connect with remote IL-6 infrastructure whenever short connectivity windows appear. They use multiple Low-Earth Orbiting (LEO) communications pathways to synchronize with IL-6 services without operator involvement. When these brief opportunities occur, whether via commercial LEO networks, military LEO transports, or opportunistic connections from ships or aircraft, ZTEG nodes retrieve mission updates, refresh threat and policy libraries, download software updates, and securely publish relevant telemetry back to IL-6 systems.
Designed for Real-World, Intermittent Connectivity
This autonomous, intermittent-connectivity model ensures ships, aircraft, and expeditionary teams maintain access to current tools, intelligence, and mission updates even when operating in contested environments or under DDIL and EMCON conditions. CrEWS and ZTEG together provide a resilient bridge between centralized intelligence and decentralized maritime and airborne operations.
Powered by Collaboration With the United States Navy
Global Maritime Werx is working closely with organizations across the U.S. Navy through our CRADA to refine, validate, and demonstrate these capabilities across the Fleet. Our collaboration supports emerging operational concepts such as Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) by delivering secure mobile and edge-computing solutions to the Tactical Edge.
Learn More or Request a Demonstration
We welcome collaboration with operational units, program offices, warfare centers, and industry partners. To learn more or request a demo, contact us at: info@globalmaritimewerx.com