ELECTRONIC WARFARE TECHNOLOGY
Abstract
The overarching objective of this activity is to develop technologies that enable the development of affordable, effective and robust Electronic Warfare (EW) systems across the entire electromagnetic spectrum that will increase the operational effectiveness and survivability of U.S. Naval units. Emphasis is placed on passive sensors and active and passive countermeasure (CM) systems that exploit and counter a broad range of electromagnetic threats. The focus is on maintaining near perfect, real-time knowledge of the enemy; countering the threat of missiles against deployed Naval forces; precision identification and location of threat emitters; and development of technologies that have broad application across multiple disciplines within the EW mission area. This activity also includes developments to protect these technologies from external interference, and modeling and simulation required to support the development of these technologies. Also included is technology development in support of the Integrated Distributed Electronic Warfare System (IDEWS) concept. The current specific objectives are: a) Sensors for the Purpose of Detection, Localization, and Identification of Hostile Signals of Interest: Develop sensors for the purpose of detection, localization, and identification of hostile signals of interest anywhere in the electromagnetic spectrum to provide autonomous and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) to forward deployed forces and detecting/identifying terrorists/hostiles and their communications networks. b) Components and Advanced Architectures/Signal Processing Designs: Develop components and advanced architectures/signal processing designs to ensure effective and reliable threat detection of hostile emissions in dense environments. c) Countermeasures and Techniques to Defeat Advanced Radio Frequency (RF) Guided Threats: Develop countermeasures and techniques to defeat advanced RF guided threats to protect high value assets from advanced weapon attack, develop forward deployed jamming systems to negate advanced RF surveillance systems, and deny enemy usage of Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation. d) Countermeasures and Techniques to Defeat Advanced Electro-Optic/Infrared (EO/IR) Guided Threats: Develop countermeasures and techniques to defeat advanced EO/IR guided threats to protect high value assets from advanced weapon attack, disrupt and attack EO/IR ISR assets, and provide false/misleading information to hostile EO/IR targeting and tracking systems. e) Modeling and Simulation: Use modeling and simulation to assess the effectiveness of Electronic Attack (EA) engagements to develop an understanding of adversary threat characteristics to support countermeasures technique requirements/development and assess/predict engagement effectiveness to optimize combat system engagement resources. f) Electronic Protection from Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and EA: Develop Electronic Protection (EP)/Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) to prevent the disruption and denial of U.S. Naval RF and EO/IR sensors and systems from both unintentional EMI and intentional EA and permit unimpeded usage of the electromagnetic spectrum by U.S. and allied forces. g) Joint Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW): Develop and demonstrate technologies to improve virtually all aspects of performance related to next generation JCREW equipment. h) Offboard/Unmanned Platforms - Electronic Warfare: Develop and demonstrate technologies that support the increased effectiveness of EW unmanned platforms. i) Integrated Distributed Electronic Warfare System (IDEWS) concept: Develop and demonstrate technologies that will enable the control of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum over wide geographical areas, optimally utilizing all available off-board and on-board EW assets to provide synchronized and networked EW sensing and attack. j) Electronic Warfare (EW) Roadmap: Develop classified advanced electronic warfare technology in support of current and predicted capability requirements. k) Wideband Electronic Support (ES) - Sensing/Processing: Develop and demonstrate the capability of ES systems to provide wideband (1-110 gigahertz (GHz)) spectral coverage and improve naval (Navy and Marine Corps) battlespace awareness, which includes continuously monitoring this critical portion of the EMS; quickly and accurately classifying emitters and emitter functions; precisely and rapidly locating platforms, people, things, and events; and conducting accurate long-term monitoring and tracking of hostile forces. l) Wideband Electronic Attack (EA) - Components/Techniques: Develop and demonstrate the capability of EA systems to provide wideband (1-110 GHz) spectral coverage and improve naval (Navy and Marine Corps) ability to limit or deny enemy access to the EMS; provide false or misleading information to enemy C4ISR and targeting systems; and damage or degrade enemy sensing capabilities. m) Millimeter Wave (MMW) High Power Transmitters: To improve the capability of naval (Navy and Marine Corps) EA systems to deny or deceive sensors or weapons guidance systems operating in the MMW bands of the Electro-Magnetic Spectrum (EMS). n) Multispectral Semiconductor Lasers: Develop and demonstrate a semiconductor-based, multi-wavelength integrated laser source spanning multiple bands of the ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), and long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum with multiple discrete spectral line emissions. o) Continuously Tunable Multispectral Fiber/Waveguide Lasers: Develop and demonstrate a multi-wavelength integrated laser source with optical fibers/waveguides as the lasing media, spanning multiple bands of the UV, VIS, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR spectrum with continuously tunable output emissions. p) Non-Mechanical Beam Steering: Develop non-mechanical beam steering technologies that will allow coherent energy spanning multiple bands of the ultraviolet UV, VIS, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR spectrum to be directed in a low divergence beam with minimal or no side lobes over an angular range covering not less than 120-degrees conical (threshold) up to a complete hemisphere (objective). The increase from FY 2012 to FY 2013 is due to increased emphasis and priority in research supporting Electronic Warfare technology development in Wideband ES/EA Components and MMW High Power Transmitters. The following are non-inclusive examples of accomplishments and plans for projects funded in this activity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Source ID
- 44a4e3dc6df2b963900e178ed44cae1c