Electronic Warfare Flashcards
What is Electronic Support?
Determine and exploiting tactical use of the EM spectrum (ES)
With ES action is taken to search for, intercept, locate and identify EM energy emissions for the purpose of threat recognition.
What is Electronic Attack?
Reducing and preventing hostile use of the EM spectrum. (EA)
EA are actions taken to prevent or reduce the enemy’s effective use of the EM spectrum.
What is Electronic Protection?
Retaining friendly use of the EM spectrum. (EP)
In terms of EW, what is Emission Control?
EMCON is the control of our emissions to minimize detectability, improve sensor performance (SLA 10) and safety.
What are the different warfare centers?
1) CF Maritime Warfare Center
2) CF Electronic Warfare Center
3) Naval Electronics Warfare Center
What is the range advantage?
The distance at which our ESM can detect a target radar relative to where the target radar can detect us. Generally it is 3:1
What is an omnidirectional antenna?
An antenna that can send and receive signals equally in all directions.
What is a super heterodyne receiver?
A SHR uses filtering, a mixer and a LO to translate the received signal to a lower IF.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of a super heterodyne receiver?
1) High sensitivity and selectivity
2) Slow signal handling due to tuning requirements
3) Low probability of intercept
What is de-interleaving?
Separating individual pulse trains from an interleaved pulse train.
In EW what is seduction?
Seduction is a jamming tactic used to create a fake signal to lure an incoming missile away from the actual target.
In EW what is deception?
Deception uses signals to mislead an enemy. An example is making an enemy missile believe you are in a location that you are not.
What is repeater jamming?
Repeater jamming manipulates received radar energy and retransmits it to change what the enemy radar sees.
What is responsive jamming?
An incident RF is received and the frequency is measured. An oscillator sets the response signal to the incident frequency.
What type of jamming is normally used with MASS?
Range Gate Pull Off
What is passive electronic attack?
Decrease the effectiveness of enemy sensors without the use of EM energy.
What is EA confusion?
Using CHAFF clouds to create a false target for a CW radar to lock up. It is deployed during the search phase.
What is EA distraction?
Distraction is used when a missile is in flight and provides a false target for the missile to lock on.
What is EA seduction?
Seduction is employed to break a missile lock on. It is used with active ESM and CHAFF. It breaks the lock and allows the lock onto another target, usually using Range Gate Pull Off.
What is the purpose of the EW suite?
To provide STJ with electronic support and electronic attack capability.
What is the purpose of Sea Search?
To provide passive electronic support capability for the detection, localization and classification of RF emitters
Explain the sea search antenna assembly.
There is an omnidirectional and a direction finding antenna on the mast. The DF antenna is a feed horn with a rotating reflector. There are two omni antennas covering 2-12 and 8-18 GHZ frequency bands.
Explain the sea search RF Distribution Unit
THE RFDU provides switching between the two antenna groups and a pre-amplifier for the tuner diplexer.
Explain the Sea Search tuner
The tuner is a super heterodyne receiver where initial signal processing occurs. The tuner is where the SLA-10 blanker is interfaced.
Explain the sea Search Data Processor.
The data processor is the brain of the system and is where control, analysis and identification functions are completed. This is where the pulse descriptor word, measuring frequency, pulse repetition interval (PRI), Pulse Width (PW), amplitude, and the first and last time seen is developed
Explain the Sea Search workstation.
The workstation is the HMI for the system. This is where search, mission, processing and reporting parameters are set and executed.
What are the sea search modes of operation?
1) Automatic - using a search scenario file
2) Manual - operator inputs the search criteria to look in a defined area.
What is the purpose of ELISRA?
To provide passive electronic support capability for the detection, localization and classification of RF emitters
What is the purpose of the ELISRA reception group?
To collect RF signals and convert them to electrical signals.
What is the purpose of the ELISRA Omnidirectional Antenna Unit?
The OAU provides 360 degree coverage in the medium to very high bands (2-40 GHz)
What is the purpose of the ELISRA direction finding antenna array?
Located forward and aft of the mast, the DFAs are 21 element arrays are used for direction finding in the low to very high bands (0.7-40GHz).
What is the purpose of the ELISRA Radio Frequency Unit?
The RFU performs amplifies LB signals from the DFUs and MB-VHB signals from the OAU. Additionally, video in the MB-VHB is amplified by the RFU. It is located part way up the mast
What is the purpose of the ELISRA Signal Measurement Group?
The signal measurement group takes signals from the reception group, measures the signal characteristics and generates the Pulse Descriptor Word (PDW) for each signal.
What is the purpose of the ELISRA Receiver and Direction Finding Unit?
The signal measurement group takes signals from the reception group, measures the signal characteristics and generates the Pulse Descriptor Word (PDW) for each signal.
What is the purpose of the ELISRA Dual Channel Receiver and Processor Unit?
The DRPU is a dual superheterodyne receiver assembly that measures LB DFA signal parameters, determines LB Direction of Arrival and assembles the LB Pulse Descriptor Word.
What is the purpose of the ELISRA Signal Processing Group
The Signal Processing Group is the brain of the system. It performs classification, analysis and identification functions using the PDW. Additionally, the Signal processing group receives IF signals from the DRPU for sampling and recording and interfaces to CMS and NDDS. The signal processing group is made up of the following subcomponents.
What is the Purpose of the ELISRA ESM equipment rack?
The ESM equipment rack contains the PCU, ISU, power supplies and the ethernet switch. The ethernet switch connects the subcomponents together and provides the interface for NDDS, CMS and the console.
What is the purpose of the ELISRA Processing Computer Unit (PCU)
The PCU is the main computer which performs the following tasks:
1) Clustering – grouping PDWs that appear to be from a single emitter
2) De-interleaving – separating pulses into chains of pulses with similar features
3) Assignment – Assigning chains of pulses to existing emitters or new emitters
4) Identification – Comparing emitter parameters to the ELISRA library.
What is the purpose of the ELISRA IF Sampling and Recording Unit? (ISU)at
The ISU samples and records IF signals provided by the DRPU.
What is the purpose of the Analog Blanking Junction Box (ABJB)?
Converts the blanking signals from the SLA10 into blanking pulses for the ABJB.
What is the Purpose of the ELISRA Display and Control Group?
This is the HMI for the system and where data is analyzed via a GUI.
What is the purpose of the ELISRA Environmental Control Unit?
The ECU chiller is in the EWER and there is one ECU in each DFA. They supply the DFA with cooling liquid and dry air. The ECU interface with ships LP Air and chilled water.
What are the ELISRA modes of operation?
1) Operational - ELISRA is operating manually with operators observing interesting emitters, adjusting parameters and controlling what it passed to CMS.
2) Training - operator training in a simulated environment.
3) Playback - used t playback recorded signals
4) Maintenance - used for maintenance, fault isolation and software configuration.
What is the purpose of the Surveillance Radio Detector? (SRD 505)
To provide STJ with the capability to intercept and localize communication signals.
What is the purpose of the SRD Direction Finder Assembly?
It uses two sets of antenna elements to acquire, direction find and intercept communication signals. The signals are routed through beamforming networks to the interconnect box.
What antennas make up the SRD Direction Finding Assembly?
1) VHF2/UHF dipole antenna.
2) VHF1 Loop Antenna
3) 8 HF Low RCS loop antennas (pizza boxes)
4) Two monopulse omni antennas providing a reference signal.
What is the purpose of the SRD Interconnecting Box?
Provides all RF, digital, power and control interfaces between the DF assembly and the receiver group.
What is the purpose of the SRD Receiver group?
The receiver group collects the signals collected by the ICB and adds a GPS server time sync. The receiver group performs down conversion and digitization to extract signal information for analysis.
What is the purpose of the Control Indicator Group?
The CIG is the HMI for the system. Included in the CIG are the display, trackball, keyboard, spectrum analyzer and audio amplifier. The CIG operates using Window 7 with two terabyte hard drives.
What are the SRD modes of operation?
1) Automatic with no operator intervention and external DF tasks are given by CMS.
2) Manual where the system is operator controlled, and tracks are sent to CMS.
What is the purpose of the Multi-Ammunition Soft-kill System (MASS)?
To provide STJ with a softkill electronic attack (EA) capability against TV-, IR-, Radar-, Laser-, and Microwave-guided munitions.
What is the purpose of the MASS Interface Unit?
This is the main interface between MASS, CMS and NDDS. It performs calculations based on the current situation and a threat library provided by the warfare center. It will provide engagement plans based on this information.
What is the purpose of the MASS Multi-Function Display?
The MFD is the secondary launch location using a touch input display an operator or technician can select modes and display a fault log. There are two MFDs located on the bridge and in OPS.
What is the purpose of the MASS Launch Control Unit
The LCU takes commands from the MIU and converts those into servo and launch commands for the launchers. The LCU controls the fire blocking unit to prevent firing at the ship and calculates inclinometer adjustments required if NDDS is lost. The LCUs are in the EWER and AFT SIS.
What is the purpose of the MASS Manual Panel
The manual panels are where the launchers can be operated manually. Additionally, maintenance, loading and unloading are completed at the manual panel. The Firing Integrity Key is installed here to permit firing.
What is the purpose of the MASS Launcher?
The launchers are where OMNITRAP ammunition is loaded and fired. There are two launchers on each bridgewing and one on the quarterdeck.
Explain the MASS Ammunition
OMNITRAP rounds contain a payload of flares and CHAFF for distraction or seduction of the guided munitions. CHAFF is composed of glass fiber dipoles coated in aluminum which scatters the RF energy returning to the guided munition.
What are the MASS Modes of Operation?
1) Manual – system is fired from the MFD
2) Integrated – fired using CMS in conjunction with other EW systems
3) Simulated – Operating the system in a simulated environment.
What is the purpose of Reprogrammable Multi-mode Shipborne ECM System (RAMSES)
To provide STJ with an active soft kill Electronic Attack measure IOT protect the ship from radar-guided anti-ship missiles.
What is the difference between hard and soft kill?
1) Hard Kill - Physically destroying or incapacitating a target (example - shooting down a missile with another missile)
2) Soft Kill - Disrupting or deceiving a target without physical destruction. (example - Using electronic warfare to misguide a missile)
What is the purpose of the RAMSES antenna assembly?
To provide STJ with an active soft kill Electronic Attack measure IOT protect the ship from radar-guided anti-ship missiles.
What is the purpose of the RAMSES RF Cabinet?
Inside this cabinet, RF energy is filtered and amplified. Pulse and noise jamming techniques are created here. The jamming signal is created in the RF cabinet using TWTs.
What is the purpose of the RAMSES Input Module?
The input module receives the sum and difference signals from the receiver It measures the amplitudes and routes signals that contain pulse activity to the responsive and repeater modules.
What is the purpose of the repeater module?
The repeater module takes received RF signals, stores them and modifies it to create repeater (pulse) countermeasures.
What is the purpose of the RAMSES responsive module?
The responsive module measures the frequency of the RF sample, reproduces the signal, amplifies, modulates it and then sends it to the Power Output Module for amplification and transmission.
What is the purpose of the RAMSES Power Output Module?
This unit contains the pulse and CW TWTs and an RF switch. Jamming signals sent from the repeater or responsive modules are amplified and transmitted here.
What is the purpose of the Pulse Sorting Module?
The PSM analyzes incoming pulses to isolate a specific emitter or group of emitters. Additionally, the PSM controls the input and responsive modules and prioritizes threats.
What is the purpose of the Processor Module?
The processor module is the brain of the system. Incoming pulses are compared to the threat library in the processor module and a jamming plan is created here. Interface with the ships external systems happen in the processor module.
What is the purpose of the RAMSES interface module?
Housekeeping functions are performed in the interface module and the navigation feed is physically connected here.
What is the purpose of the RAMSES remote panel?
The remote panel is in the ops room between EWS and ELISRA. From the remote panel you can dial in a bearing and press the jam button.
What are the RAMSES Modes of Operation?
1) Automatic - RAMSES receives threat data from CMS and RAMSES performs the remaining functions automatically.
2) Integrated - In integrated mode, CMS informs both MASS and RAMSES of the threat and both systems are used to defeat the threat
3) Manual - In manual, EWS is operating the system manually from the remote panel.
What are the EW suite system interfaces?
1) EPG&D
2) HVAC
3) CW
4) LP Air
5) NDDS
6) CMS
7) SLA-10/ABJB
What are the EW suite Redundancy and Survivability considerations?
1) Geographical Separation
2) Local/Standalone Modes
3) Battle Shorts
4) Duplicates
5) UPS
What are the test and trial considerations for the EW suite?
1) BITs
2) DSOTs
3) HATs (SEWE)
4) SATs (SEWE)
What are the EW suite safety precautions?
1) Electrical
2) RADHAZ/Person Aloft
3) Weapons Keys
How do we load the MASS? What to we use to bring it all the way vertical?
Done using the manual panels, which can control where the launchers are pointing. They are brought vertical for loading/unloading. The system is loaded by the NESPOS.
What type of analyzer is used in SRD 505?
Spectrum Analyzer
Can SRD 505 be used for encrypted signals?
No
What operating system is used for Sea Search?
Solaris which is a LINUX system.
Where does data collected by sea search go?
It goes to the warfare center to augment the threat libraries.
What are some differences between Sea Search and ELISRA?
1) ELISRA faster pushing to CMS
2) Sea Search more precise and gathers more reliable information
3) Processing time is slow with Sea Search
4) ELISRA has higher bandwidth.
What is a common ELISRA problem in warm weather?
The cooling liquid run to the DFAs is long, and the DFAs can overheat.
How big is the ELISRA threat library?
10k threats
How does ELISRA know a threat is coming?
It doesn’t. It treats all contacts as unknown until comparison with the threat library.
How many threats can RAMSES react to?
What is the RAMSES effective area?
Can the RAMSES AE move?
Where are all the UPSs for this suite?
Where are all the consoles for this suite (be specific)
1) ELISRA -
2) Sea Search -
3) MASS -
4) RAMSES -
5) SRD 505 -
Why is the sea search antenna shaped the way it is?
1) It is shaped sort of like a banana.
2) This is do reduce sidelobes, mitigating bearing ambiguity.
What frequency band does RAMSES operate in?
1) I Band - 8-10 GHZ
2) J Band - 10-20GHZ
What is CW noise jamming?
Transmitting a continuous, unmodulated signal (containing no information) to confuse the enemy radar system.
What is pulsed noise jamming?
Pulsed noise jamming can confuse radar systems by injecting noise that mimics the radar’s own pulses, creating false echoes or making real targets harder to identify
What is false targets in side lobes jamming?
Radiating false returns into an enemy radar side lobes, confusing the radar in terms of number and location of targets.
What is range gate pull off jamming?
RGPO jamming introduces a false signal that initially aligns with the target’s actual return signal, but then slowly moves away in range over time.
What are the RAMSES tracking techniques?
1) Track while scan
2) Conical Tracking
3) CW tracking
4) Pulse Compression Tracking
5) Mono-pulse tracking
What area are OOB for a RAMSES DSOT?
1) STBD BD
2) STBD BW
3) Flag Deck
What are the operational frequency ranges for each system in the EW suite?
1) ELISRA - 0.7-40GHz
2) Sea Search - 1-18GHz
3) RAMSES - 8-16 GHZ
4) SRD 505 - 0.5MHz - 1GHz
Describe the interior of the RAMSES antennas
1) TX (top) Has a rotating feed horn
2) Rx (bottom) has two feed horns
How long does it take RAMSES to warm up from standby?
3 minutes
What is the purpose of the RAMSES UPS?
1) Graceful shutdown
2) Maintains loaded software and threat library
If a target is no in the threat library, can RAMSES jam it?
Manually only
What is the shelf life of OMNITRAP?
1) 10 years
2) 60 days in launcher
What software does RAMSES use?
1) SPP - system proving program
2) OPE - operational environment
What is the purpose of the SLA-10 WRT to RAMSES?
SLA-10 prevents RAMSES from picking up own ship emitters when searching for a threat.
Why is the RAMSES Tx AE on top?
Improves Tx range
What is the MASS firing voltage?
24 volts
What are the MASS firing safety references?
1) NAVORD 4995-0 - Safety Firing arcs
2) Explosive safety manual volume 3
3) NAVORD 3136-4 Weapons keys
What are the MASS launcher states?
1) Local
2) Load
3) Remote
4) Emergency Stop
What information is sent by CMS to MASS?
1) Attitude of ship
2) Relative wind velocity and direction
3) Bearing, range, identification of threats
4) Fire authorization
Does CMS tell MASS where to fire the rounds?
No, CMS tells where the threat is and MASS uses its library to set the engagement plan.
What types of missiles can MASS intercept?
1) Infrared
2) Electro-optical
3) Laser
4) Radar
5) UV
What is the range of MASS?
6-100km
Is there a single point of failure for MASS?
Yes, the MIU
What happens if MASS misfires?
The rounds sleeve of four removed and the single round quarantined.
What is the load configuration for MASS?
8 cassettes, 4 rounds per cassette for a total of 32 rounds for each launcher.
Explain electrically vs mechanically sae for MASS.
1) Electrically safe - WVP in OPS
2) Mechanically - launch control units in the load position
If NAV is lost, does MASS have any redundancy?
There is an inclinometer that will determine the roll and pitch of the ship if NAV through CMS is lost.
Why have Sea Search and ELISRA?
1) Cross referencing
2) Information can be collected with sea search
3) Sea search can be used to classify the type of platform.
What is the maximum speed of the sea search DF antenna?
200rpm
Explain the ELISRA antenna distribution
There is an omnidirectional antenna and each DFA contains 3 LB and 6 antennas each for MB/HB/VHB
What information does ELISRA analyze?
Frequency, PRI, PW, scan rate and an interna library
How does the ELISRA DFs determine bearing?
Using time difference of arrival and signal strength the Direction of Arrival is determined.
Who provides the tactical and mission libraries for ELISRA?
NEWC - National Electronic Warfare Center
What frequencies are SRD always monitoring?
1) 121.5 MHz - Aircraft distress frequency
2) 243 MHz - Military distress
What are the operating systems for each system in the suite?
1) RAMSES OPE and SPP
2) MASS - NIL
3) SRD 505 - WIN 7
4) Sea Search - SOLARIS
5) ELISRA - WIN 7
