Electronic warfare

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Electronic warfare

Electronic warfare (EW) The term EW refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) or directed energy (DE) to control the EMS or to attack the enemy. EW includes three major subdivisions: electronic attack (EA), Electronic Protect (EP), and electronic warfare support (ES). The purpose of EW is to deny the opponent an advantage in the EMS and ensure friendly unimpeded access to the EM spectrum portion of the information environment.

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Electronic Warfare Support

Electronic Warfare Support (ES), is the subdivision of EW involving actions tasked by, or under direct control of, an operational commander to search for, intercept, identify, and locate or localize sources of intentional and unintentional radiated Electromagnetic (EM) energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition, targeting, planning, and conduct of future operations. An overlapping discipline, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) is the related process of analyzing and identifying the intercepted frequencies (e.g. as a cell phone or RADAR). SIGINT is a combination of ELINT, COMINT, and MASINT. Where these activities are under the control of an operational commander and being applied for the purpose of situational awareness, threat recognition, or EM targeting, they also serve the purpose of Electronic Warfare Support (ES).

Government, law enforcement, and military operational techniques are governed by US Codes for use with intelligence gathering procedures.

Electronic Attack

Electronic attack (EA) involves the use of the electromagnetic energy, or anti-radiation weapons to attack personnel, facilitites, or equipment with the intent of degrading, neutralizing, or destroying enemy combat capability and is considered a form of fires (see Joint Publication [JP] 3-09, Joint Fire Support.

EA operations can be detected by an adversary due to their active transmissions. Many modern EA techniques are considered to be highly classified

Classified information

Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular classes of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data....
. Examples of EA include communcations jamming, IADS suppression, DE/LASER attack, expendable decoys (e.g., flares and chaff), and counter radio controlled improvised explosive device (C-RCIED) systems.

An older term for EA is electronic countermeasures (ECM).

Electronic Protection

Electronic Protection (EP) involves actions taken to protect personnel, facilities, and equipment from any effects of friendly or enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum that degrade, neutralize, or destroy friendly combat capability. EP should not be confused with self-protection (jamming). The use of flare rejection logic on an IR missile to counter an adversary’s use of flares is EP. While defensive EA actions and EP both protect personnel, facilities, capabilities, and equipment, EP protects from the EFFECTS of EA (friendly and/or adversary). Other examples of EP include spread-spectrum technologies, use of Joint Restricted Frquency List (JRFL), emissions control (EMCON), and low observability or "stealth".

Older terms for EP include electronic protective measures (EPM) and electronic counter countermeasures (ECCM).

Electronic warfare

Electronic Warfare Support

Electronic Attack

Electronic Protection

See also

Further reading