IW4450 Electromagnetic Warfare for the Technical Information Operation Officer

Course provides an overview of the goals, challenges, and implementation specifics of con-ducting warfare in the electromagnetic spectrum, as defined/constrained by the laws of physics. Core topics include: RF wave energy measurement, propagation, path/absorption/redirection losses, refraction, solar influence, antennas, noise, direction-finding, radar performance and identification parameters, receiver types, one- and two-way link equations, decibel math, S/N, J/N, ADC, SDR, decoys, and deception techniques.

Prerequisite

PH1322 and MA1116

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

2

Course Learning Outcomes

• Fundamental understanding of the Electromagnetic (EM) Spectrum and the characteristics and behavior of EM energy waves.
• Fundamental understanding of radio frequency (RF) antennas: including ability to discern operating band and functional purpose of a transceiver given various physical and measured operating characteristics of its associated antenna.
• Fundamental understanding of RF propagation; including such concepts as: ducting, solar influences on the ionosphere, free-space path loss, refraction, atmospheric absorption, ground waves, Fresnel zones and the one-way link equation.
• Fundamental understanding of the sources and adverse effects of both natural and man-made sources of noise.
• Fundamental understanding of how receivers function, what their primary figures of merit are, and the main categories of receivers as distinguished by their operating characteristics and trade-offs.
• Fundamental understanding of the three objectives of Electronic Support (ES) (intercept, localize, identify), the two objectives of Electronic Attack (EA) (cover/blind and deception), and the increased role of passive and active EA decoys.
• Fundamental understanding of Electronic Protection (EP) techniques that can be helpful in protecting against ES and EA conducted by an adversary.