The very success of radar at detecting and tracking military targets means that it has become the target of electronic attack itself. As soon as a military radar system is turned on, its EM emissions will be detected unless it uses spread spectrum LPI techniques to evade detection. Any radar signals detected will be analysed by ESM receivers and an ECM strategy formulated; this may include the use of Stealth to reduce the RCS of the target. While electronic countermeasures are effective, and expensive to defend against using ECCM techniques, the balance at present probably resides on the side of radar, provided the waveforms are controlled intelligently.

Chapter Contents:

• 14.1 Objectives and definitions
• 14.2 Noise jamming and the radar equation
• 14.3 Types of electronic countermeasures and electronic counter-countermeasures
• 14.4 Stealth applications
• 14.5 Summary
• 14.6 References
• 14.7 Problems

Inspec keywords: electronic warfare; radar tracking; radar detection; military radar

Other keywords: military radar system; radar signal detection; electronic warfare; military target tracking; ECCM technique; radar tracking; ESM receivers; EM emission; electronic attack; electronic countermeasures

Subjects: Signal detection; Radar equipment, systems and applications; Radar and radiowave systems (military and defence); Electronic warfare