Significance of Electronic Warfare Today
Modern warfare is highly reliant on the electromagnetic spectrum, which is the atmospheric medium for electromagnetic radiation. Technologies that operate within the electromagnetic spectrum (and impact our ability to conduct electronic warfare) include radio communications, radar, and GPS signals. It is imperative for the military to have unimpeded access to the electromagnetic spectrum in order to successfully coordinate and execute electronic warfare tactics.
EW became prevalent during the Cold War, as there was minimal direct combat between the opposing sides. However, there was constant tension surrounding the possibility of a nuclear attack from either side. This resulted in the military focusing on electronic warfare technology in order to detect, defend, and counter a possible nuclear attack.
At the end of the Cold War, the United States was the only remaining superpower but today that is no longer the case. For the last 25 years, U.S. military investments shifted toward warfare technologies and weaponry more specific for war in the middle east, where EW/EMSO attacks are much less of a threat. Meanwhile, near-peer and peer adversaries have continued to modernize their EW/EMSO capabilities, recognizing that future engagements will be fought in the electromagnetic spectrum.
A common misconception is that Electronic Warfare is merely aircraft self-protection. With the evolution of wireless technology, GPS, WiFi, and Cyber/computer networks, the role of electronic warfare has grown to include any military action taken in the electromagnetic spectrum. It is fundamentally important for the EW community to be thinking about EW operations in all frequencies of the EM spectrum to include infrared, laser/optical, radar/radio, DC, visible/light.
A dimension of EW that doesn’t get much attention is Denial of Spectrum Denial, or the collective behavior of assuming that the electromagnetic spectrum will always be available. This is a very dangerous assumption, because the U.S.’s enemies have been watching us for the last 25 years, and are craftily developing capabilities to jam cell towers, block or spoof GPS signals, and corrupt data signals. What makes DoSD so threatening is that current U.S. military tactics are nearly 100% reliant on availability of the spectrum. Examples include GPS, missile guidance, and simple communications links (e.g. cell phone calls). WSS is on a campaign to educate everyone working in EW on the dangers of DoSD, and motivate everyone to take steps to either ensure access to the spectrum, or have a back-up plan if they cannot access the spectrum.