more computers link networks through transmitted frequencies. Therefore, the ability to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum is central to full spectrum operations. This chapter describes how commanders apply electronic warfare capabilities to support
full spectrum operations.
THE ROLE OF ELECTRONIC WARFARE
2-1. Army electronic warfare (EW) operations seek to provide the land force commander with capabilities to support full spectrum operations. Full spectrum operations consist of the purposeful, simultaneous combination of offense, defense, and stability or civil support. The goal of full spectrum operations is to change the operational environment so that peaceful processes are dominant. Nonetheless, operational environments are complex; commanders must conduct operations across the entire spectrum of conflict. The Army maintains flexible forces with balanced capabilities and capacities. These flexible and balanced forces remain able to conduct major operations while executing other day-to-day smaller-scale operations. (See FM 3-0.)
2-2. Figure 2-1 (page 2-2) shows the weight of effort for using EW during operations. This figure adapts the elements of full spectrum operations (offense, defense, and stability or civil support) as described in FM 3-0. Overseas, Army forces conduct full spectrum operations (offensive, defensive, and stability) simultaneously as part of a joint force. Within the United States, Army forces conduct homeland defense and civil support operations as part of homeland security. Army electronic warfare (EW) operations seek to provide the land force commander with capabilities to support full spectrum operations. As noted in figure 2-1, statutory law limits the use of EW capabilities in support of civil support operations.
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Figure 2-1. Electronic warfare weight of effort during operations
2-3. Full spectrum operations involve more than executing all elements of operations simultaneously.
They require that commanders and staffs consider their unit’s capabilities and capacities relative to each of the elements of full spectrum operations. Commanders consider how much can be accomplished simultaneously, how much can be phased, and what nonorganic resources may be available to solve problems. The same applies to EW in support of full spectrum operations. Commanders and staffs determine which resident and joint force EW capabilities to leverage in support of each element of full spectrum operations. Weighting the EW focus of effort within each of the elements assists commanders and their staffs in visualizing how EW capabilities can support their operations. Commanders combine offensive, defensive, and stability or civil support operations to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative. As they apply the appropriate level of EW effort to support these elements, commanders can seize, retain, and exploit the initiative within the electromagnetic environment.
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THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRONIC WARFARE
2-4. To support full spectrum operations and achieve the goal of electromagnetic spectrum dominance, commanders fully integrate EW capabilities and apply them across the elements of combat power.
Leadership and information are applied through, and multiply the effects of, the other six elements of combat power. Paragraphs 2-5 through 2-16 discuss the elements of combat power and how EW
capabilities can support them.
IN SUPPORT OF LEADERSHIP
2-5. Leadership initiates the conditions for success. Commanders balance the ability to mass the effects of lethal and nonlethal systems with the requirements to deploy and sustain the units that employ those systems. Generating and maintaining combat power throughout an operation is essential. Today’s operational environments require leaders who are competent, confident, and informed in using and protecting combat capabilities that operate within the electromagnetic spectrum. Commanders plan, prepare, execute, and assess EW operations to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum within their operational environment. To accomplish this domination, commanders effectively apply and integrate EW
operations across the warfighting functions.
IN SUPPORT OF INFORMATION TASKS AND CAPABILITIES
2-6. Information is the element of combat power consisting of meaningful facts, data, and impressions used to develop a common situational understanding, to enable battle command, and to affect the operational environment. (See FM 3-0 for a discussion of combat power.) In modern conflict, gaining information superiority has become as important as lethal action in determining the outcome of operations.
Information superiority is the operational advantage derived from the ability to collect, process, and disseminate an uninterrupted flow of information while exploiting or denying an adversary’s ability to do the same (JP 3-13). To achieve this operational advantage, Army commanders direct efforts that contribute to information superiority. These efforts fall into four primary areas: Army information tasks; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; knowledge management; and information management. (See FM 3-0 for a discussion of information superiority.)
2-7. The Army information tasks are used to shape a commander’s operational environment. These tasks are information engagement, command and control warfare, information protection, operations security, and military deception. Information capabilities can be used to produce both destructive and constructive effects. For example, destructive actions use information capabilities against the enemy’s command and control system and other assets to reduce their combat capability. Constructive actions use information capabilities to inform or influence a particular audience or as a means to affect enemy morale. Although applicable to all elements of full spectrum operations, EW capabilities play a major role in enabling and supporting the execution of the command and control warfare and information protection tasks.
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2-8. Command and control warfare is the integrated use of physical attack, electronic warfare, and computer network operations, supported by intelligence, to degrade, destroy, and exploit an enemy’s or adversary’s command and control system or to deny information to it (FM 3-0). It includes operations intended to degrade, destroy, and exploit an enemy’s or adversary’s ability to use the electromagnetic spectrum and computer and telecommunications networks. Information protection is active or passive measures that protect and defend friendly information and information systems to ensure timely, accurate, and relevant friendly information. Information protection denies enemies, adversaries, and others the opportunity to exploit friendly information and information systems for their own purposes (FM 3-0).
Table 2-1 shows capabilities, intended effects, staff responsibilities, and functional cells for the command and control warfare and information protection tasks. (For further information on the information tasks, refer to FM 3-0.)
Table 2-1. Two Army information tasks: command and control warfare and information protection
2-9. To support these information tasks, commanders ensure EW is coordinated, integrated, and synchronized with all other tasks. This occurs within the operations process through the various functional and integrating cells. Table 2-2 illustrates EW capabilities, actions, and objectives that support the command and control warfare and information protection tasks.
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Table 2-2. Electronic warfare support to two Army information tasks
IN SUPPORT OF THE WARFIGHTING FUNCTIONS
2-10. EW capabilities support each of the six warfighting functions. Examples of specific supporting capabilities are given in the following paragraphs.
Movement and Maneuver
2-11. The movement and maneuver warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that move forces to achieve a position of advantage in relation to the enemy. Direct fire is inherent in maneuver, as is close combat (FM 3-0). EW capabilities that enable the movement and maneuver of Army forces include—
z
Suppression and destruction of enemy integrated air defenses.
z
Denial of enemy information systems and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensors.
z
Target designation and range finding.
z
Protection from effects of friendly and enemy EW.
z
Lethal and nonlethal effects against enemy combat capability (personnel, facilities, and equipment).
z
Threat warning and direction finding.
z
Use of the electromagnetic spectrum to counter improvised explosive device operations.
z
Electromagnetic spectrum obscuration, low observability, and multispectral stealth.
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Intelligence
2-12. The intelligence warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that facilitate understanding of the operational environment, enemy, terrain, and civil considerations (FM 3-0). It includes tasks associated with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. EW capabilities that enable the intelligence warfighting function include—
z
Increased access for intelligence collection assets (systems and personnel) by reducing antiaccess, antipersonnel, and antisystems threats.
z
Increased capability to search for, intercept, identify, and locate sources of radiated electromagnetic energy in support of targeting, information tasks, and future operations.
z
Increased capability in providing threat recognition and threat warning to the force.
z
Indications and warning of threat emitters and radar.
z
Denial and destruction of counter-intelligence, -surveillance, and -reconnaissance systems.
Fires
2-13. The fires warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that provide collective and coordinated use of Army indirect fires, joint fires, and command and control warfare, including nonlethal fires, through the targeting process (FM 3-0). It includes tasks associated with integrating command and control warfare. EW capabilities that enable the fires warfighting function include—
z
Detection and location of targets radiating electromagnetic energy.
z
Disruption, degradation, and destruction options for servicing targets. This includes information systems, targets requiring precision strike (such as minimal collateral damage and minimal weapons signature), hard and deeply buried targets, weapons of mass destruction, and power generation and infrastructure targets.
z
Control, dispersion, or neutralization of combatant and noncombatant personnel with nonpersistent effects and minimum collateral damage (scalable and nonlethal).
z
Area denial capabilities against vehicles, vessels, and aircraft.
Sustainment
2-14. The sustainment warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that provide support and services to ensure freedom of action, extend operational reach, and prolong endurance (FM 3-0). EW
capabilities that enable the sustainment warfighting function include—
z
Protection of sustainment forces from friendly and adversary use of EW in static or mobile environments.
z
Enhanced electromagnetic environment situational awareness through the interception, detection, identification, and location of adversary electromagnetic emissions and by providing indications and warnings. (This information can assist in convoy planning, asset tracking, and targeting of potential threats to sustainment operations.)
z
Countering improvised explosive devices to support ground lines of communication (includes counter-radio-controlled improvised-explosive-device systems and countering other threats triggered through the electromagnetic spectrum, such as lasers).
z
Spectrum deconfliction and emissions control procedures in support of sustainment command and control.
z
Electromagnetic spectrum obscuration, low-observability, and multispectral stealth (These capabilities provide protection during sustainment operations).
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Command and Control
2-15. The command and control warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that support commanders in exercising authority and direction (FM 3-0). EW capabilities that enable the command and control warfighting function include—
z
Protection of friendly critical information systems and command and control nodes, personnel, and facilities from the effects of friendly and adversary EW operations.
z
Control of friendly EW systems through—
Frequency deconfliction.
Asset tracking.
Employment execution.
Reprogramming of EW systems.
Registration of all electromagnetic spectrum emitting devices with the spectrum manager (both prior to deployment and when new systems or devices are added to the deployed force).
z
The development of EW command and control tools to enhance required coordination between Army and joint EW operations.
z
EW operations integration, coordination, deconfliction, and synchronization through the EW
working group (see chapter 3).
z
Increased commander situational understanding through improved common operational picture input of electromagnetic spectrum- and EW-related information.
z
EW operations monitoring and assessment.
Protection
2-16. The protection warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that preserve the force so the commander can apply maximum combat power (FM 3-0). EW capabilities and actions that enable the protection warfighting function include—
z
Enhanced electromagnetic spectrum situational awareness through the interception, detection, identification, and location of adversary electromagnetic emissions used to providing indications and warnings of threat emitters and radars.
z
Denial, disruption, or destruction of electromagnetic-spectrum-triggered improvised explosive devices and enemy air defense systems.
z
Deception of enemy forces.
z
Electromagnetic spectrum obscuration, low-observability, and multispectral stealth.
z
EW countermeasures for platform survivability (air and ground).
z
Area denial capabilities (lethal and nonlethal) against personnel, vehicles, and aircraft.
z
Protection of friendly personnel, equipment, and facilities from friendly and enemy electronic attack, including friendly information systems and information. (This includes the coordination and use of both airborne and ground-based electronic attack with higher and adjacent units.) SUMMARY
2-17. Army EW operations provide the land force commander capabilities to support full spectrum operations (offensive, defensive, and stability or civil support operations). EW supports full spectrum operations by applying EW capabilities to detect, deny, deceive, disrupt, or degrade and destroy enemy combat capability and by controlling and protecting friendly use of the electromagnetic spectrum. These capabilities—when applied across the warfighting functions—enable commanders to address a broad set of electromagnetic-spectrum-related targets to gain and maintain an advantage within the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Chapter 3
Electronic Warfare Organization
A flexible organizational framework and capable, proficient electronic warfare
personnel enable the commander’s electronic warfare capability on the battlefield.
This chapter discusses a framework that ensures coordination, synchronization, and integration of electronic warfare into full spectrum operations. This electronic
warfare organizational framework supports current operations and is adaptable for
future operations.
ORGANIZING ELECTRONIC WARFARE OPERATIONS
3-1. Operational challenges across the electromagnetic spectrum are expanding rapidly. As Army electronic warfare (EW) capabilities expand to meet these challenges, the organizational design required to coordinate, synchronize, integrate, and deconflict these capabilities must transform as rapidly. To meet current and future requirements, command and control of EW operations is built around the concept of EW
working groups. Figure 3-1, page 3-2, illustrates the EW coordination organizational framework.
ARMY SERVICE COMPONENT COMMAND, CORPS, AND DIVISION LEVELS
3-2. A working group is a temporary grouping of predetermined staff representatives who meet to coordinate and provide recommendations for a particular purpose or function (FMI 5-0.1). The EW
working group, when established, is responsible to the G-3 through the fires cell. An EW working group usually includes representation from the G-2, G-3, G-5, G-6, and G-7. (Joint doctrine calls this organization the EW coordination cell.) The EW working groups depicted in figure 3-1 (page 3-2) facilitate the internal (Army) and external (joint) integration, synchronization, and deconfliction of EW
actions with fires, command and control, movement and maneuver, intelligence, sustainment and protection warfighting functions. Normally, EW working groups do not add additional structure to an existing organization. As depicted in figure 3-1, working groups vary in size and composition based on echelon.
3-3. Normally, the senior EW officer heads the EW working group and is accountable to the G-3 for integrating EW requirements. Working within the fires cell, the EW officer coordinates directly with the fire support coordinator for the integration of EW into the targeting process. This ensures EW capabilities are fully integrated with all other effects. Additional staff representation within EW working groups may include a fire support coordinator, a spectrum manager, a space operations officer, and liaison officers as required. Depending on the echelon, liaisons could include joint, interagency, and multinational representatives. When an Army headquarters serves as the headquarters of a joint task force or joint force land component command, the Army headquarters’ working group becomes the joint force EW
coordination cell.
3-4. When Army forces are employed as part of a joint or multinational force, they normally have EW
representatives supporting higher headquarters’ EW coordination organizations. These organizations may include the joint force commander’s EW staff or the information operations cell within a joint task force.
Sometimes a component EW organization may be designated as the joint EW coordination cell. (Chapter 6
discusses joint electronic warfare operations in more detail.) The overall structure of the combatant force and the level of EW to be conducted determine the structure of the joint EW coordination cell. The organization to accomplish the required EW coordination and functions varies by echelon.
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Figure 3-1. Electronic warfare coordination organizational framework
3-5. Regardless of the organizational framework employed, EW working groups perform specific tasks.
Table 3-1 (page 3-3) details the functions of the EW working groups by echelon from battalion to Army Service component command. There is no formal organizational framework for EW at the company level (see paragraph 3-9).
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Table 3-1. Functions of electronic warfare working groups
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BRIGADE LEVEL
3-6. At the brigade level, the EW officer heads the EW working group and is accountable to the S-3 for integrating EW requirements. Additional staff representation within EW working gr