How Digital Technologies Are Transforming Electronic Warfare

Electronic warfare (EW) is the use of the electromagnetic spectrum to protect or attack an adversary’s access and use of the spectrum. EW is a critical component of modern warfare, as it can provide an edge over the enemy in terms of situational awareness, communication, navigation, and targeting. However, EW is also a dynamic and complex domain, as the spectrum is constantly changing and contested by various actors and technologies.

In this blog post, we will explore how EW systems can be classified into three main categories: electronic attack (EA), electronic protection (EP), and electronic support measures (ESM). We will also argue that EW is moving away from the analog era and embracing the new digital technologies, driven by the rapid increase in computing power and affordability of advanced technologies. We will provide some examples of how digital technologies are enhancing the performance, flexibility, and interoperability of EW systems. Finally, we will conclude that the digital evolution of EW is creating new opportunities and challenges for the EW community, and that the future of EW will depend on the ability to leverage the digital technologies to achieve and maintain spectrum superiority.

The Three Categories of EW Systems

EW systems can be classified into three main categories, depending on their function and purpose:

• Electronic attack (EA) is the offensive use of EW to degrade or deny an adversary’s use of the spectrum, such as jamming radars or communications. EA can also be used to deceive or spoof the enemy, such as creating false targets or altering the location or identity of friendly forces.
• Electronic protection (EP) is the defensive use of EW to protect oneself from electronic threats, such as using countermeasures or defensive jamming. EP can also be used to enhance or improve the performance of friendly systems, such as reducing interference or increasing signal strength.
• Electronic support measures (ESM) is the use of EW to gain situational awareness and understanding of the electromagnetic battlespace, such as detecting and locating enemy emitters. ESM can also be used to support other EW functions, such as providing intelligence or guidance for EA or EP.

These three categories of EW systems are not mutually exclusive, and often work together to achieve a desired effect. For example, an EA system may use ESM data to identify and target an enemy radar, while an EP system may use ESM data to avoid or counter the enemy jamming.

The Digital Evolution of EW Systems

Traditionally, EW systems have relied on analog technologies, such as vacuum tubes, transistors, and diodes, to generate, process, and manipulate electromagnetic signals. However, these technologies have some limitations, such as:

• They are bulky, heavy, and power-hungry, which reduces the mobility and endurance of EW platforms.
• They are fixed and inflexible, which limits the adaptability and versatility of EW capabilities.
• They are proprietary and incompatible, which hinders the interoperability and modularity of EW solutions.

In recent years, EW systems have been undergoing a digital transformation, thanks to the rapid increase in computing power and affordability of advanced technologies, such as:

• Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM), which allows for the capture, manipulation, and retransmission of radio signals, enabling more effective jamming and deception techniques. DRFM can also store and replay multiple signals, creating a complex and dynamic electromagnetic environment for the enemy.
• Software Defined Radio (SDR), which allows for the reconfiguration of radio functions through software, enabling more adaptable and versatile EW capabilities. SDR can also support multiple waveforms and frequencies, increasing the bandwidth and coverage of EW systems.
• Open Architecture (OA), which allows for the integration of different EW systems and components through common standards and interfaces, enabling more interoperable and modular EW solutions. OA can also facilitate the sharing and collaboration of EW data and resources, improving the situational awareness and coordination of EW operations.

These digital technologies are not only enhancing the performance, flexibility, and interoperability of EW systems, but also enabling new EW concepts and applications, such as:

• Cognitive EW, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable EW systems to autonomously sense, learn, and adapt to the dynamic and complex electromagnetic environment, optimizing the EW effectiveness and efficiency.
• Networked EW, which uses communication and networking technologies to enable EW systems to operate in a distributed and collaborative manner, creating a synergistic and resilient EW capability.
• Cyber EW, which uses cyber techniques and tools to enable EW systems to exploit or attack the adversary’s cyber infrastructure and assets, creating a seamless and integrated cyber-electromagnetic operation.

The Future of EW Systems

The digital evolution of EW systems is creating new opportunities and challenges for the EW community, such as:

• Opportunities:
• Expanding the EW domain and spectrum, as digital technologies enable EW systems to operate in new domains, such as space and cyberspace, and new parts of the spectrum, such as terahertz and optical frequencies.
• Enhancing the EW effectiveness and efficiency, as digital technologies enable EW systems to perform more functions, faster, and with less resources, increasing the EW advantage over the adversary.
• Enabling the EW innovation and experimentation, as digital technologies enable EW systems to be more flexible, adaptable, and reconfigurable, allowing for rapid prototyping, testing, and deployment of new EW capabilities and concepts.
• Challenges:
• Increasing the EW complexity and uncertainty, as digital technologies create a more dynamic and contested electromagnetic environment, requiring more sophisticated and robust EW systems and strategies.
• Intensifying the EW competition and conflict, as digital technologies lower the barriers and costs of entry to the EW domain, enabling more actors and threats to challenge the EW superiority of friendly forces.
• Balancing the EW security and interoperability, as digital technologies raise the risks and vulnerabilities of EW systems and data, requiring more stringent and effective EW protection and assurance measures.

The future of EW will depend on the ability to leverage the digital technologies to achieve and maintain spectrum superiority, while overcoming the challenges and threats posed by the digital transformation. The EW community will need to embrace the digital evolution, and adopt a more agile, collaborative, and innovative approach to EW development and operation. The EW community will also need to integrate and coordinate with other domains and disciplines, such as cyber, space, and information, to create a holistic and comprehensive EW capability.