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| EC-130H "Compass Call" Picture I |
Kimmo Huosionmaa
A couple of days ago the communication between support groups and EC-130 ”Compass call” platform was cut down in Syria. It's good at the crew of that plane reported that communication cutting. This is, of course, remarkable thing, and proves that electronic warfare consists multi-layer environment, what would consist jamming impulses, malware software and Anti Radiation Missiles use against jammer platforms. Many people believe that jammer-systems are always installed in airplanes, but they can also use in mobile or fixed ground stations and warships. The fixed system's mission is to disturb incoming missiles and bombers radars and communication systems, what can make the coordinated operation of that task-force very difficult. The easiest way to block the communication is just send electronic noise, what has more power than data transmission, what this time consists also analogical communication.
If the radio-frequency of IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems can be disturbed, the ability to recognize own airplanes can decrease and own anti-aircraft flak can destroy own aircraft. Same way the GPS or GLONASS could be jammed, and this is the threat for modern military operations in every sector. Of course, electronic warfare consists also malware or computer virus, what can be delivered to air by using radar or other radio-transmitters. In this case, the computer virus can infect the computers by electronic sensors, what is used to take those signals. This kind of software can be installed to normal aircraft radars and when the pilot turns the attack mode on, the radar can deliver that malware.
This system might be ineffective if the targeted system is equipped with firewalls, but the software would not change the use of that radar. And there is no need for modification for physical components in that aircraft. One purpose of electronic warfare aircraft could be to keep other systems updated by loading to own troops coded systems new firewalls and antivirus software. If the electronic communication systems would infect by computer virus, the situation could be that nuclear weapon communication transforms unusable, and those weapons cannot get their operational codes.
Also the computer viruses can in theory infect the guidance systems of the missiles and computers of the combat aircraft. That would make operating those systems very difficult. Of course, the radio-based location of airplanes and radio-communication are tried to replace by laser-communication systems, what have of course their own limits. Lasers can effectively use as the communication equipment in cases, where the airplane flies above the cloud level. Also, that laser system can be locating the airplanes or ships. In this case, the photo-recon satellite would notice the laser point, and then sends the picture of that place to the aircraft.
The laser point would see in the picture, and after that aircraft can turn inertial navigation system in use. Lasers can also use to mark the location of own troops, and this system is immune to radio-based tracking systems. But there are many weaknesses in lasers, and one is that the laser-rays would not go thru the walls. The problem with communication outposts and electronic jamming equipment is that they are good targets for Anti Radiation Missiles, what can shoot from an airplane or they can be modified Air-defense missiles. Electronic warfare is the area, what has many layers. And if some of those areas are getting old, would that cause harm to own troops.
Sources:
https://breakingdefense.com/2018/04/russia-widens-ew-war-disabling-ec-130s-in-syria/
Picture I
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/73-1580_Lockheed_EC-130H_Compass_Call_%2834559173566%29.jpg
http://crisisofdemocracticstates.blogspot.fi/p/electronic-warfare-is-complex-thing.html
