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breakthroughs occur. ^Pe' C°mPosite materials to riCe rc°nductivity, companies '“da.'-0 apply these advances in
orir*ar 'n battle of ij0t)a'n has so much atten- narfbeen given to electronic Spe are and the electromagnetic • ctrum. The world is experienc exS ,a tremendous technological ,hi>’ the ramifications of a, a are being evaluated even
arena
,’ and, in particular, the Navy’s lie', immunity.
lr°nic aUSe 'ts clandestine nature, elec- grasn 'Varfare is difficult for many to h's not tangible like a Tomahawk missile, but rather encompasses <hre electromagnetic spectrum in tattlej. Stapes are i°ught. This complex he](] ,lehi covers everything from hand early Cv’ces to satellite communications
n attempt to deny the Soviets use of sPaceearIy weapon systems, U. S. aero- c°mpanies developed airborne
This EA-6B crew sits amidst almost overwhelmingly complex technology. They need better training to stay on top of their gear.
jamming platforms to perform electronic countermeasures (ECM). Their goal was simply to deny or degrade the enemy’s use of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Post-Vietnam military experts familiar with ECM recognized the need to improve the accuracy of weapon systems and the speed of communications. Through technology, these systems began to incorporate electronic countercountermeasures (ECCM), which allowed them to operate even when jamming was induced.
One of the world’s most technologically advanced airborne jamming platforms is the EA-6B Prowler. A derivative of Grumman’s A-6 Intruder, the Prowler was designed to be a dedicated ECM aircraft. The first EA-6A provided tactical countermeasures support in Vietnam against early, unsophisticated radar systems. The first four-seat EA-6B was delivered in 1971 and contained a receiver and jamming suite designed to counter these simple North Vietnamese systems. As technology improved the accuracy of weapon systems, the U. S. Navy improved its ability to counter these threats. The EA-6B has five versions: standard, improved capability, improved capa- bility-Il, improved capability-111, and advanced capability.
As each version deployed, the United States was able to deny or degrade the enemy’s use of its state-of-the-art weaponry against U. S. and South Vietnamese forces. The spectrum, however, is becoming extremely difficult to manage because of the density of emissions. Intercepting and distinguishing between friendly and enemy emitters have been continuing problems. The fact that friendlies and hostiles occupy many of the same frequencies doubles an increasingly complicated spectrum.
Technology has helped as well as hindered the EA-6B’s quest to control the electromagnetic spectrum. The efforts have greatly modified electronic warfare
Vdi,
ln8s / October 1988
173
ilvlcs and strategy, but, more important, e had a dramatic effect on personnel. irategy and Tactics: Military strategy ^rads heavily on the performance of
^ bines, weapons, radars, and comput- :„_ ®PPear capable of contributing to the
S'
anced systems. These whiz-bang
Rare
battle
of large-scale military operations. Ie military has never been more
°f a weapon’s performance before ie Computer-generated encounters Jjonstrate the weapon’s ability under t^e conditions. The Navy develops its ii, 1Cs based on the outcome of wargam- l engagements. Missiles will be
lllched.
pi shots fired, defenses em-
L, . > and fuel spent without anyone the office.
bon'6 is a classic example of
ltoring applied technology in a train-
itsVCenario- Given a known target and He etenses, the strike leader can assess
^MITl0Unt degradation the EA-6B [(.. aircraft inflicts upon enemy de- s0tlies' Based on this data, he may, with cLC degree of accuracy, estimate his Tm,c®s of survival and mission success, t 's strike planners quickly will see
these rates increase dramatically p an EA-6B is included in the strike. h£°nnel: Modern technology has ftrj'i ed electronic warfare to the fore- \s strike planning. But the EA-6B
'll,
tiv„ 2°t have all the answers to an effec- game plan. Members of this
res ___ r_____________
tnunity are considered to be experts
:’r:jViS'ng tactical ECM, but the rapid % " °f weapon systems within the Ve°ma8net‘c spectrum may be leaving 1^ ln the EA-6B community behind, in,,e BA-6B countermeasures officer is
S?val
r Bight officer (NFO) with a bache- (lot ae8ree. His background may or may . ntain any hard science (i.e., math,
wysi
Jtely ’ engineering) training. Immedi- ®fter receiving his designation as ’ he begins electronic warfare train- korry Station in Pensacola, Flor- Htr he 12-week course consists of an Of rUl,Uct'°n to electronic warfare, theory tec0 ar> systems employed, and signal ^hition.
lransf°n ComPleting this training, he is % y^d to Fleet Replacement Squad- |>ey |S| ~'29 at Naval Air Station Whid- A t|j ar|d, Washington, to begin training file y BA-6B Prowler weapon system. HHif^Q'129 curriculum is a 36-week b'hst I ^Ur'ng which the young NFO •he p earn a new aircraft and how to use
measures officer (ECMO), he reports to his fleet squadron. At the peak of his knowledge of aircraft systems and enemy threat radars, he now receives yet another task: to become familiar with friendly- force emitters within the electromagnetic spectrum. This takes place during workups or an operational deployment. He is now accountable for knowledge of both friendly and hostile radars, their communications, and weapon-employment procedures—from fighters to submarines, cruise missiles to antiaircraft artillery. This is an impressive data bank for young officers, some of whom have had no prior technical education.
Let us assume the ECMO has a solid understanding of most weapon systems and weapon-commit criteria while on the deck. But when airborne and operating in a dense signal environment, will he be able to absorb and interpret the tremendous amount of information provided in rapid sequence by the EA-6B? He will have to discern between commercial and military emitters, hostile and friendly emitters, and threat or nonthreat emitters. Once he determines the type of emitter, he must decide whether to activate countermeasures. This decision process is long, but can and must be shortened with modem technology applications.
Solution: “You train like you’re going to fight,” says the adage. The U. S. Navy must continue to increase and improve realism in its training through advanced technology. The requirement to assess weapon performance and tactics accurately before an engagement is of the utmost importance. In addition, the Navy must generate a training environment resembling the one it expects its air crews to defeat in combat.
For EA-6B crews, this means an intense training scenario within an extremely dense electromagnetic spectrum. Aircrews must be prepared to keep pace with aircraft data. In tactical aviation, the phrase “speed is life” refers to one’s aircraft speed. In electronic warfare, speed in decision making may mean someone else’s life.
The next major military conflict will employ highly diverse and sophisticated weapons and communications. To combat the enemy’s systems, the ECMO must have the advantage of the best training possible.
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Technical
IVanslation
ECM system to defeat the
6sVs llnin:
Afte
® designated an electronic counter-
%
Weapons. A short review of hos-
lrainjn err>s is available during VAQ-129
Af O'
bein„Cr §raduating from VAQ-129 and
Lieutenant Commander Sadel is currently executive officer of Medium Attack Weapons School at Whid- bey Island Naval Air Station. He was commissioned in 1977 and designated a naval flight officer. His first posting was at Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron in Rota, Spain. He has also served as the NATO liaison officer and operations officer at the Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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l,nRs / October 1988
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