Jamming and Electronic Warfare: the basics

[JayPee]

For those interested, here's some basic information on jamming and electronic warfare. Further down this thread are some more links and articles. Give it a go if you like.

 

http://defence.pk/threads/electronic-warfare.179178/

[Kuky]

That's some good info there (couldn't read it all) :)

[upyr1]

What method(s) would the difernt type of AC molded in the game use?

:pilotfly:

[Eddie]

For those who are interested, this one is more comprehensive. 300+ pages of good bathroom/bedtime reading material (at least if you're me).

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e8ldbrc8xql77ew/Electronic%20Warfare%20Fundamentals.pdf

 

What method(s) would the difernt type of AC molded in the game use?

:pilotfly:

 

Fighter/Attack aircraft generally use deception techniques, and some of the lower power noise techniques. But as with all things ECM/ECCM, nobody who actually knows the answer is going to be much more specific than that.

 

While the whole "how ECM works" side of things is pretty easy and very much open knowledge, the specifics of how individual ECM suites operate and their effectiveness versus specific threats if one of the most highly protected aspects of information. Such things aren't even openly shared amongst the AUS/CAN/NZ/UK/US club.

 

But there is more than enough information out there, containing in papers such as in the OP and linked above to create a damn good simulation of the electronic battlefield, if someone wanted to.

[SDsc0rch]

i would like to see "some" kind of EW emulated in DCS

 

we've got one level for tactical unit - thats cool

 

i'd also like to see an escort jammer / SOJ platform

 

at the same level of fidelity as we have now - just a blanket "on / off" signal that is effective out to some distance - that exists in a certain azimuth and elevation from the transmitter ----- not unlike other sims have done in the past

 

*cough*F4*cough*janes*cough*

 

excuse me ; )

 

i know/understand/realize the EW world is spooky and closely-held --- its not necessary to go ANY where near the level of detail described in the simple (and UNCLAS) docs referenced above

 

but SOJ/escort jammers would really go a long way towards making DCS that much more realistic

 

ultimately, i'd like to see all the aspects of a given era's strike package modeled - either at the AI level or the player level

Edited August 9, 2014 by SDsc0rch

[SFJackBauer]

i would like to see "some" kind of EW emulated in DCS

 

we've got one level for tactical unit - thats cool

 

i'd also like to see an escort jammer / SOJ platform

 

at the same level of fidelity as we have now - just a blanket "on / off" signal that is effective out to some distance - that exists in a certain azimuth and elevation from the transmitter ----- not unlike other sims have done in the past

 

*cough*F4*cough*janes*cough*

 

excuse me ; )

 

i know/understand/realize the EW world is spooky and closely-held --- its not necessary to go ANY where near the level of detail described in the simple (and UNCLAS) docs referenced above

 

but SOJ/escort jammers would really go a long way towards making DCS that much more realistic

 

ultimately, i'd like to see all the aspects of a given era's strike package modeled - either at the AI level or the player level

 

Problem is, you have to do an accurate simulation otherwise its gonna be fantasy world.

 

We know that Ravens / Prowlers / Growlers are very effective due to pilots accounts and the single fact they actually get used and maintained (no Air Force / Navy would maintain useless aircraft on its inventory). However they are also not the mythical invincible creatures in warfare. But how far do you go once simulating it?

 

For example, how many surface-to-air radars should a Raven disrupt simultaneously? 2? 5? 10? And what is the minimum range? 10 miles? 5? What if those radars are distributed around the Raven, does it has more effectiveness towards the front azimuth? Or side? Or rear? You need these data to put into the simulator, even if as simple lookup tables (e.g. a simpler form of simulating), but to have these data you need either a concrete knowledge of the actuals, or be able to infer it from the physical data and the various open sources you have available.

[SFJackBauer]

BTW one thing that not even Falcon/BMS have is towed decoys... Such an essential piece of equipment for Wild Weasels. I think VRS SuperHornet has it, but not sure if only for aesthetics.

[Eddie]

A nice declassified US Navy instructional video on Self Protection Jamming from 1962. Has some nice clear and easy to understand explanations of a few ECM techniques such as Range Gate Pull-off and Velocity Gate Pull-off. And even mentions numbers and types of RADARs that can be countered simultaneously (by 50+ year old systems).

 

 

Imagine what we can do 62 years later. And what modern Surface and Airborne RADAR systems have to do to try and counter the countermeasures.

[Ghostraider]

The most of these Sytem and maneuvers, to defend any threads, are classified. But i hafe a good link for Radarsystems: http://www.radartutorial.eu/

[ESAc_matador]

Anyone knows, hoe the altitude, and Temperature affects radar emissions? Jamming?

 

Also. What area the Prowler/Growler covers, downside only?

 

Working in the EW jamming script. 2.0. Much more developed than a single... Unit in zone... Shut off the SAM. Now depends on many factors, distances between Jammer, SAM, targets, angle of jamming, so the opposite lobe is unjammed... The closer the jammer from the SAM the wider is the angle covered....the script is also depending on the jammer bank... I want to make it dependant on the vertical angle from the SAM to the jammer, and the bank of the jammer..... It is almost done... This type of script will alow jamming, yes, but need to be used rigthfully, you need to prepare where and how are you going to Jamm, and how your strike aircraft, CAP is going to work