Despite of the importance of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) in modern operations and the obvious need to coordinate spectrum activities with air, space, land, sea and cyber activities, most Western nations, and NATO, have failed to recognize EMS as one environment in modern warfare. This might be the Achille’s heel of the Western military forces.
Author: M.Sc., Lic.Tech, Dr.Tech h.c., GSO, Colonel Jyri Kosola, R&T Director, Finnish Defence Forces
Modern warfare has spread to all domains where human activities take places, creating a new buzzword, all domain warfare. The physical domains, land, air, sea and space are interconnected through kinetic and electromagnetic interactions, like air to ground weapons, and shore to sea communications. Electromagnetic spectrum is the glue between different domains.
As actions and operations in one domain affect all domains, there is a serious argument, that electromagnetic spectrum should be considered a domain of its own. Military operations in physical domains can be described by capability taxonomy: Military units and systems compile situational picture in order to achieve situational awareness, manoeuvre into favourable position, engage the enemy and try to protect themselves. If EMS is recognized as a domain, could it be dealt in the same way as the physical domains? And if so, then how to integrate, coordinate and deconflict operations in the EMS? The key question is how to guarantee freedom of operation in the EMS equalling other domains.
Electromagnetic operations (EMO) are not part of cyber operations and not limited to Electronic Warfare (EW). However, EMO will shape the future of EW and electromagnetic spectrum management.
The key driver behind the growing importance of electromagnetic operations, is a phenomenon called convergence. It means fusion of different capabilities, services, equipment, platforms etc. into smaller number of different types, eventually leading to singularity: one gadget or one vehicle type capable of providing all required capabilities.
Modern smart phone is a good example of convergence. It has indulged hundreds of different objects serving its user as library, book store, cartographic service, television, cinema, personal trainer etc. In the military domain, convergence fuses surveillance, target acquisition, communication, positioning, navigation and engagement services into single platform. As they can supervise activities, acquire and engage targets in all domains while providing connectivity between systems and platforms in different domains, they are key elements in the all-domain warfare.
As converged systems will replace dedicated equipment and platforms with a numerous fleet of multi-role, multi-tasking apertures exploiting the EMS, the use of spectrum must be integrated, coordinated and deconflicted. History of warfare provides multiple examples on consequences of not coordinating the use of electromagnetic spectrum with threat, events and operations in other dimensions.
The sinking of HMS Sheffield during the Falklands war is a good example of how to shoot your own leg. The captain of Sheffield managed to blind his own ESM system with radio communications to Admiralty in London. The crew failed to coordinate activities in sea, air and electromagnetic domains. They were not able to deconflict the several simultaneous needs to exploit the spectrum, as they were not even aware of the conflicting use requirements of active and passive sensors, datalinks and radios providing situational awareness, protection and command & control capabilities.
Modern multi-domain operations require real-time coordination of both active at and passive use of Electromagnetic Spectrum. EMS is the glue between different physical domains. It is important to understand that it is not question about Electronic Warfare or Frequency Management etc., but exploitation of the spectrum as part of joint and combined operations in all relevant domains. Securing own use of EMS while denying enemy’s freedom of action in EMS gives clear and significant advantage in battle.
Operations in the electromagnetic spectrum remind operations in other domains: Military forces collect information, compile recognized situational picture, target, track and engage enemy, manoeuvre and protect themselves in EMS, more or less like in other domains.
Electromagnetic spectrum is a limited resource. It is not only constrained, but also congested and contested environment: Friendly, hostile and neutral transmitters and receivers struggle to find their space and either look means to avoid interfering others, or try deliberately to disrupt their use of the EMS.
Despite of the importance of the electromagnetic spectrum in modern operations and the obvious need to coordinate spectrum activities with air, space, land, sea and cyber activities, most Western nations, and NATO, have failed to recognize EMS as one environment in modern warfare. This might be the Achille’s heel of the Western military forces
