The Red Air aircraft, however, can still react and resist the jamming if it is equipped with Electronic Counter-CounterMeasures (ECCM). The jammer will then transmit a high-power signal to create noise higher than the adversary’s limit, so the EA action is degraded or interrupted. The noise is generally any unwanted signal that disturbs the system and generally there is a certain quantity of noise that is tolerated and ignored by the computer. While the former creates false targets by passively reflecting the electromagnetic energy, the latter actively radiate the energy to exploit the electromagnetic noise limit of the Red Air aircraft’s systems. After performing the analysis of the collected signal, the system determines the best reaction to defeat the threat and deploys expendables countermeasures and jamming signals, known also as Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM). The Blue Air aircraft is the defender and the receiver sensor of its RWR detects the threat. The Red Air aircraft is the attacker and it could be either launching a missile or performing EA against the opponent. To better understand this concept, let’s look at how a basic EW engagement scenario unfolds between generic Blue Air and Red Air aircraft. The three categories of EW systems we just mentioned have in turn three main common capabilities: sensing the environment, analyzing the environment and reacting to the environment. Because of this, they are often integrated with EA and EP systems, like the RWR coupled with expendable countermeasures and jammers for self-protection or the HTS pod (AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System) coupled with AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) missiles for SEAD/DEAD missions. A tactical example is the Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), while more strategic ones are Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Communications Intelligence (COMINT) and Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) assets used to create the Electronic Order of Battle (EOB).ĮSM are tactically important because they allow prioritization of potential threats in real time for improved decision making. EP systems provide active protection to counter EA, by using means like expendable countermeasures (chaff, flares, towed decoys) and defensive jamming.Įlectronic Support Measures provide situational awareness and understanding of the electromagnetic battlespace by creating an operational picture of allied and adversary positions. Two of the better-known examples of EA are the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and offensive jamming used to disrupt communications.Įlectronic protection is the defensive use of EW for individual aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and personnel from electronic threats. Today EA is an integral part of military operations. (Image: Northrop Grumman)Įlectronic Attack is the offensive use of EW to degrade or deny an adversary’s use of the spectrum. A simplified description of how Electronic Countermeasures protect an aircraft. EW provides a vitally important function by protecting the access and use of the electromagnetic spectrum while simultaneously degrading or denying an adversary to do the same.ĮW systems can be configured for a variety of missions, usually grouped in three main categories: Electronic Attack (EA), Electronic Protection (EP) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM). The control of the electromagnetic spectrum is a major part of today’s warfare which, if neglected, can compromise the mission’s success. As mentioned by NG in their feature, a digital battle for the electronic warfare domain is underway, with adversaries seeking to control the electromagnetic spectrum and deny access to airspace by using sophisticated and agile multi-spectral systems and creating dense, highly contested environments. Nowadays, new generation threats are emerging all over the world, both in regard of anti-aircraft weapons (the so-called “double digit SAMs” like the SA-21/S400 and new air-to-air missiles) and new EW capabilities, all based on new digital technologies. Over the past decades, infrared countermeasures and analog EW systems were highly effective to protect aircrews against legacy anti-aircraft weapons during combat operations. How the rapid increase in computing power and affordability of advanced technologies are driving the move from legacy analog EW systems to new digital ones.Ī recent feature by Northrop Grumman provided some interesting insights into how the Electronic Warfare (EW) is moving away from the analog era and embracing the new digital technologies.
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