Select Page

Electronic Warfare (EW)

Electronic Warfare (EW)Score 69%Score 69%

UNDERSTANDING ELECTRONIC WARFARE

This is the contest for control of the electromagnetic spectrum, a battle fought through the discipline of electronic warfare, or EW, and without it there can be no mission success.

On the modern battlefield, there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye. Above and beyond the missions we can see and hear – on the ground, in the air and at sea – a hidden battle pulses and surges, and along with it, the prospects of victory or defeat.

WHY ELECTRONIC WARFARE MATTERS

Modern military capabilities rely increasingly on the electromagnetic spectrum. Warfighters depend on the spectrum to communicate with each other and their commanders, to understand the environment and inform decisions, to accurately identify and engage targets, and to protect them from harm.

EW provides a vitally important function – protecting our access and use of the spectrum – while simultaneously denying and degrading an adversary’s use and access.

ELECTRONIC WARFARE IS A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE

The story of electronic warfare is one of intrigue, secrecy and technological innovation at the cutting edge. Throughout its history, EW has played a significant role in helping military leaders maintain a strategic edge in a battlespace experiencing rapid technological advances.

As nations learned to exploit the electromagnetic spectrum for military advantage – in areas like communications, navigation and radar – military strategists and scientists simultaneously engineered ways to deny their adversaries those similar advantages. A cat-and-mouse dynamic emerged in the competition for spectrum superiority – one that continues to define the advancement of the field today.

Global technologies and developments in EW are leveling the playing field. The proliferation and affordability of commercial electronics and computing power means that EW is no longer the exclusive province of wealthy nations; it is now a battlefield for smaller states and even non-state actors. EW helps sort through this complexity, making sure our systems are able to communicate, identify and combat enemy radar.

The future of U.S. and allied spectrum superiority will require increasingly innovative strategies that keep our warfighters ahead of current and emerging threats.

ELECTRONIC WARFARE: HOW, WHERE AND WHY

How does a fighting force use the electromagnetic spectrum? What does spectrum superiority look like? The answer depends on the mission at hand and the specific circumstances facing the warfighter.

Electronic warfare is employed in three ways: offensive, defensive and supportive measures. In other words, the spectrum is used to attack the enemy, to protect friendly forces and to provide critical situational awareness that aids warfighter decision-making and increases the likelihood of mission success.

 

WHAT IS AN EW SYSTEM

An electronic warfare system, whether configured to attack, protect or support, must have a way to collect and make sense of the signals in its environment.

Electronic warfare (EW) systems can be configured for a variety of different missions and use a host of different subsystems. But despite this incredible sophistication and diversity, there are three main capabilities common to most electronic warfare systems – sensing the environment (receiver sensor), analyzing the environment (signal analysis), and responding to the environment (technique generation and high power transmission).

Sense and understand the environment

 

An electronic warfare system, whether configured to attack, protect or support, must have a way to collect and make sense of the signals in its environment. It must identify what’s out there, understand how it’s using the spectrum, and determining if it’s a threat. This is the system’s “receive” capability, and it is usually performed by a subsystem called radar warning receiver (RWR).

Address threats head on

 

If the RWR detects a signal and analysis determines it to be an unavoidable threat, the EW system must then neutralize it and passes the threat data to the technique generator which determines how the system should respond to address the threat. The technique generator will select the jamming technique with the highest likelihood of success, based on a number of factors including the particular threat’s characteristics, the EW system’s host platform and the domain of battle – land, sea or air.

Jam, broadcast, transmit

For an EW system to conduct electronic attack or electronic protect missions, it must be able to broadcast signals of its own to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum. Once a threat is analyzed, and a response generated, it’s the ability of the EW system’s transmitter(s) to precisely radiate electromagnetic energy that makes jamming, spoofing, deception and other electronic countermeasures possible.

 

ELECTRONIC ATTACK

 

Electronic attack is used to degrade, disable or destroy an adversary’s use of the spectrum.

Electronic attack may be used to deny an adversary’s ability to communicate, navigate, gather intelligence or locate targets on the battlefield.

Electronic attack is an integral part of a military operation, enabling and empowering land, sea and air forces to achieve their missions. It is often employed by friendly forces to establish air superiority through the suppression of enemy air defenses and disruption of communications.

Because it is intended to create wholesale confusion and disruption of an adversary’s ability to communicate, monitor and protect its airspace, electronic attack is typically performed by dedicated units – in the air or at sea – whose primary purpose is to achieve wide area spectrum dominance.

 

ELECTRONIC PROTECTION

Electronic protection is also used to deny adversarial forces’ use of the electromagnetic spectrum, but its posture is defensive.

Electronic protection systems defend individual aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and personnel from electronic threats by providing a protective shield around the platforms and crews in the immediate vicinity.

Electronic protection systems provide threat warning and the means to actively protect themselves.

By understanding the threat landscape, warfighters can avoid detection, prevent hostile systems from locating or tracking them, and, if engaged, generate electronic countermeasures that defeat the threat by a variety of means, including radar jamming, deception or other sophisticated techniques.

Review

69%

Summary Importance of EW in modern day warfare has increased many fold during the last few decades. Main reasons of this importance are increased reliance on radar and OTH targeting, Increased use of Communications and Tactical Data Systems (TDS), increased capabilities of missile & weapons systems and the fact that modern Active/Passive homing long-range missile give little warning. EW has 3 components, Electronic Support (ES), also known as ESM (Electronic Support Measures), Electronic Attack (EA) also known as ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) and Electronic Protection (EP) also known as ECCM (Electronic Counter Countermeasures).

Relevance
90%
Comprehensiveness
80%
Academic and Professional Importance
80%
Use of Multimedia
70%
Application in 2022 in Beyond
95%
0%

About The Author

6 Comments

  1. admin

    Dear Tech Soldier this is an excellent post. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • admin

      Thanks sir

      Reply
  2. Engr. Saeed Khtar PMP

    Electronic warfare is a next theater of war. Excellent post by Tech Soldier.

    Reply
    • admin

      Thanks

      Reply
  3. Work Wrapper

    Excellent post sir, thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • admin

      Thanks

      Reply

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT VIDEOS

Loading...

Understanding The 5 Vs of Big Data

Exams Academy Shares Some Thoughts On Time Management

Take Care of Your Emotional Welbeing

Benefits Of Blockchain Technology

Differences Between AI & Machine Learning

Why Is 5G Technology Different Than 4G

Do Books Really Influence You?

RSS Exams Academy

  • AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) Certifications
    Value of any certification depends not only on the name but also on the skills and knowledge you gain during the certification process. Be sure to choose certifications that align with your specific interests and career goals. Additionally, the AI and ML landscape is continually evolving, so staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies […]
    admin
  • Professional Certifications That Will Be In Demand In 2024 and Beyond
    Predicting the exact demand for professional certifications in 2024 and beyond is challenging, as it depends on various factors. However, based on the existing trends and emerging technologies. Also, the job market is constantly evolving, so it's essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and demands in your field. Additionally, consider your interests, career […]
    admin
  • How The GRE Exam Is Going To Change In September 2023
    Graduate Record Examination or GRE 2023 is a challenging, internationally valid, entrance test. It is a registered trademark of ETS (Educational Testing Service) which is headquartered at Princeton, N Jersey, United States. This exam is attempted every year by aspirants who wish to pursue a specialized Masters course or Doctoral degree at well-known B-Schools in […]
    admin
  • New Changes in TOEFL 2023 Exam Pattern
    TOEFL is a Test of English as a Foreign Language which assesses the English skills of non-native speakers as the Educational Testing Service administers it. This test is accepted by more than 11,000 universities and other institutions in over 190 countries and territories for students who want to enrol in any overseas university or college. […]
    admin
  • Most Popular Certifications
    It's difficult to determine the most popular certification across all industries, as different certifications hold different levels of importance and popularity in different fields. To conclude, we would say that determination of the most popular certification depends on various factors such as the industry, job role, and location. However, some of the most widely recognized […]
    Engr. Saeed Khtar PMP
  • Top 8 Accounting Certifications
    If you are a financial professional, an accounting certification can increase your earning potential and qualify you for more positions. If you are considering obtaining certification, exploring some of the more popular ones can help you determine which is the best fit for you. In this article, the indeed editorial team discusses eight top accounting […]
    admin
  • Can ChatGPT Pass Any Exam?
    GPT-4 is OpenAI’s “most-advanced” AI technology. It can comprehend and discuss pictures and generate eight times the text of its predecessor, ChatGPT (which is powered by GPT 3.5). Here’s a list of exams the new technology has passed… The post Can ChatGPT Pass Any Exam? appeared first on Exams Academy.
    admin
  • Merits and Demerits of Online Examinations
    We have so far seen many advancements in science and technology but the idea of online exams is innovative and challenging at the same time. We cannot be more sure if it should be applied by and large to all institutes. There are many preparations to be done beforehand. There are many systems suggested for […]
    admin
  • Amazing Uses of Calculus in Real Life
    Calculus is used in lots of fields, physics, engineering, medicine, economics, biology, engineering, space exploration, statistics, pharmacology and many more. Without calculus architects and engineers couldn’t build safe structures. It is used to calculate changes in quantities and systems. Calculus helps to analyze, find optimal solutions and predict the future. Calculus has given us incredible […]
    admin
  • How To Improve Reading Retention
    Have you ever found yourself at the end of a book you’ve just finished wondering, what did I just read? (And not in a Gone Girl "what the hell just happened" way.) If you have trouble remembering the finer points of your recent reads, don’t stress, because you’re not alone, and there are plenty of […]
    admin