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Electronic Warfare includes any action which involves the use of any type of Electromagnetic Spectrum to control a band of the spectrum or to impede any enemy assaults.
Developed nations which depend mostly on sophisticated communication systems and data networks for their command, control, logistics and intelligence are facing a new issue of electronic warfare. They are willing to spend billions on improving and upgrading their systems against this hostile situation. In Electronic Warfare, countries have to make all of their links as robust and resilient as possible.
Electronic warfare systems are helping ground troops to detect and protect themselves from device-triggered IEDs. Programmable jammers are being produced to protect forces in vehicles from Radio Controlled IEDs.
Electronic Warfare system in Navy is used to detect, deceive, deny and defeat threats. Advanced electronic jammers, directed energies and several missiles are being used to be an offensive as well as a defensive player in the field.
Aircraft, in today’s era, are being built with capabilities of electronic attack. They could deceive and disrupt any kind of military electronics systems. They come with installed antennas and receivers.
It involves offensive use of Electromagnetic Energy or anti-radiation energy to attack any facility, equipment or personnel to degrade, destroy or neutralize enemy’s combat capability. Jamming, in case of Electromagnetic Energy, used mostly on radar and communication systems.
Missile and bombs are used in an anti-radiation weapon that follows the defined path and destroys the broadcasting system.
It involves protection of friendly forces, facilities and equipment from enemy’s use of electromagnetic spectrum which can degrade, destroy or neutralize one’s combat capability.
Spread Spectrum technology, use of flares, stealth technology, use of restricted frequency list, Jamming are examples of Electronic Protection.
It includes action taken by an operator in detection, interception, identification, locating sources of intended or unintended Electromagnetic Energy radiation.
This can be understood as ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance). Electronic Support includes the purpose of recognizing, prioritizing and targeting threats in battlefields.
Washington is sharpening its offensive as well as defensive electronic Warfare game. Most of the world’s best players in this field are from U.S. and government is making deals worth billions of dollars to improve and upgrade the electronics system to defend themselves better and destroy the enemy when required.
BAE won a contract, in 2016, worth $400 Million to upgrade U.S. Special Ops’ fleet Electronics Warfare system.
CONTRACTS
With a lot in hand technology, China is dominating the Electronics Warfare market in the Asia Pacific. Equipping its all forms of military with advance Electronic Warfare system have led China among the top players in the world. Countries like India, Australia are procuring advance technology in Electronic Warfare from the U.S. and few European companies which is worth billions.
After Russia’s invasion on Ukraine, shutting down their communication systems, Electronic Warfare interest and investment in European countries have seen a big jump. Future of Electronics Warfare in Europe can have some advanced system which includes obtaining data from UAVs to optimize ISR operations.
Electronic warfare had become a perceived area where Russia had a distinct advantage coming into the war. Despite this, its much-touted electronic warfare prowess was barely visible in the early phases of the battle in the catastrophic failure to conquer Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.
It’s becoming significantly more of a factor in the ferocious combat in eastern Ukraine, where shorter, easier-to-defend supply lines allow Russia to bring electronic warfare equipment closer to the battlefield.
When it comes to impeding reconnaissance attempts and commanders’ communications with troops, Russian threats are quite serious. The jamming of GPS receivers on drones used by Ukraine to locate the enemy and direct artillery fire is particularly severe in the line of contact.
Countering Russia’s electronic warfare tactics has had some results for Ukraine. It has taken vital hardware and destroyed at least two multi-vehicle mobile electronic warfare units, which is a big intelligence coup.
Ukraine has also made good use of US technology and intelligence, as well as that of other NATO countries. Ukraine used this knowledge to sink the battle ship Moskva.
Ukraine learnt a terrible lesson about electronic warfare when Russia used it to overwhelm its forces. Drones were shot down and warheads were destroyed by the Russians, who also accessed cellphone networks for psychological operations and zeroed in on Ukrainian armour.
In Syria, the most hostile electronic warfare environment on the earth, the communications of US pilots were often “knocked down.” Russia’s new technologies are designed to blind U.S. Airborne Warning and Control Systems, or AWACS, aircraft, cruise missiles, and spy satellites – the eyes and ears of battlefield commanders.
Electronic warfare has become a tumultuous battleground in the current conflict. Ukraine’s electronic warfare capabilities have vastly increased. For a tactical advantage, they involve the use of encrypted US and Turkish communications technology. Ukraine has progressed to the point that it now exports some of its technology.
Electronic warfare by Russia was less successful and widespread than expected. This could explain why it was unable to destroy enough radar and anti-aircraft installations to win air superiority.
Early in the fight, Russia may have limited the use of electronic warfare due to worries that untrained or unmotivated personnel would not be able to operate it successfully. Many Russian troops were chatting over insecure open radio channels that were easily monitored by outsiders, indicating communication problems.
It’s unclear how much of a competitive advantage Russia’s electronic assets presently provide. Ukraine’s forces are more concentrated now than they were earlier in the fight, making them easier to target.
