Electronic warfare

 

Electronic Warfare in the Era of Great-Power Problems

Radios, jammers, sensors and certain weapons are all crucial combat items of known value, yet they are also things that can emit a detectable electronic signature potentially able to give away a location or point of attack. Radio communications can get jammed by electronic attack, weapons guidance systems can be thrown, of course, and, perhaps most of all, an element of surprise can be completely compromised.

Given this, the Army is now working quickly on an electronic-warfare-centered approach to “counter” enemy radar detection and avoid giving up location details to enemies, while also seeking to find and disrupt any and all enemy electronic signals.

During a large Army live-fire exercise at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, called Project Convergence, Army engineers and weapons developers explained some of these emerging technical strategies to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.

“When we look at our adversaries, they are using the electromagnetic spectrum extensively with radar and EW systems. We need an integrated capability that can detect them, ID them, intercept their transmissions and perform electronic attacks and cyberattacks,” an Army engineer said.