Modern warfare is not only about the usual methods of influencing the enemy. Electronic or electronic components are a common part of the concept of modern use of the armed forces. The experience of conflicts over the past two decades has shown that in matters of suppression, artillery and aviation have emerged quite a weighty competitor - electronic warfare.
Everyone understands this. And here, and overseas. Moreover, the use of Russian electronic warfare systems in the Donbass and in Syria has given food for thought in full. And since in the Pentagon there are not only budget sawers, but quite sane generals, they also thought about tomorrow.
Fortunately, the United States is a very peculiar country in terms of information. If something is classified there, it means classified. But if there is no stamp, then please, here's to you, dear taxpayers, comments and statements of people with stars on their epaulets under the Stars and Stripes flag.
A number of materials on the topic of electronic warfare were immediately thrown out in the American media. That's what they call it.
It is clear what prompted the American military to take such actions by the successful use of our complexes in Syria. Apparently, the electronic intelligence of the US Armed Forces, which was clearly present in the SAR, was able to provide detailed data, which somewhat upset the command.
Especially jamming of GSM and GPS systems.
So it is not surprising that the information that the US Department of Defense has decided to create a working group to "restore US dominance in the electromagnetic spectrum."
General Paul Selva, deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been named head of the group, according to Al Monitor.
The general and his comrades will have to develop a strategy for getting out not so much out of the crisis, but … rather, out of a kind of reverie, into which American experts fell after they actually came under the blow of Russian jammers.
So this strategy, as well as the roadmap for the development of systems for countering electronic warfare, is all within the framework of "our response to the Russians." Quite so.
And just recently, the story was continued. US Deputy Secretary of Defense James Feist "suddenly" appealed to engineers and designers. It seemed that the occasion was normal, that is, the celebration of the day of the industrial worker, if in our opinion, but Feist was talking about matters that were by no means festive.
James Feist, by the way, is the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Defense Engineering Research and Projects. And, by the way, he was himself a former Air Force electronic warfare officer.
So, at a meeting with designers and developers, Feist made it clear that he considers the lag of the United States in the field of electronic warfare to be an accomplished business, but by no means fatal.
Moreover, the deputy minister believes that this has a positive moment. Because it is precisely the lag of the United States from Russia in the development of electronic warfare that should stimulate new work and new successes.
In short, “catch up and overtake”.
And the United States defense industry must prepare itself for urgent and necessary catch-up action.
The Syrian lesson was not in vain.
Yes, today, according to the statements of many army experts, Russia (in the opinion of the overseas) is demonstrating its potential for electronic warfare for a reason. And with a hint, or something.
And the message to the US Department of Defense was accepted and understood, and it is from here that all the aspirations to "catch up and overtake" came from. Experts (and they are in the United States, I repeat, there are) believe that bridging the gap between the RF Armed Forces and the US Armed Forces precisely in terms of electronic warfare is one of the main priorities of today and the near future.
Which, in general, is reasonable and fair.
Since the US army signalmen had actually only heard a lot about what the Russian electronic warfare systems were, and the data on the use of electronic warfare in the Crimea and Donbass were still more on the part of rumors.
But then Syria began … Which the Americans today call the most difficult region in terms of electronic warfare.
But when the EC-130N, which is "Compass Call", got under the distribution, and it got so good, everyone started thinking. Moreover, it was quite clear there that the EU-130 was not an object of influence, it really happened to be in the wrong place.
And when a plane, which itself has to suppress anyone, there is quite a decent Rivet Fire complex, worthy of respect, and suddenly finds itself in such an unpleasant situation, when you realize that they have worked for you, and you cannot do anything …
It's unpleasant.
But what do you want from the most aggressive electronic warfare environment on the planet? Where are the Russians sticking out? And this is not me, this is the chief of the US Special Operations Command, General Raymond Thomas, said. Just a quote, nothing else.
But in fact, this is how the ascent begins. Up. First, we develop new complexes that can withstand the Russian systems, then we test these complexes in the same Syria, test them … We get it from the Russians, who have come up with new crap during this time, and so on in a circle.
But there is a goal and a path with a reference point to the North Star. Although, by and large, all this is a race in a circle, nothing more.
But you have to react. For any superiority of Russia in armaments is a potential threat. And the superiority in electronic warfare is doubly.
By the way, there is one more region where it is still calm, but the prospect has a place to be. This is the Arctic. There, too, it may not be entirely calm, because in this zone there are many colliding interests.
Just a couple of months ago, the Norwegians shouted that they had 147% evidence that we jammed GPS signals during the Trident Juncture exercise, NATO's largest war games since the end of the Cold War, held around Northern Europe and the Arctic in end of 2018.
Well, in general, these are fairy tales, the maximum for which they worked with "Murmansk" is radio communication. We are not stupid, they understand that civilians can also fall under the distribution.
In general, the US understands that lagging is not very good. And that you really need to catch up and overtake. The only question is that this is not always possible. A lot of problems. But the American military understands this, which sets them up for a fighting mood. It remains for us to wish them good luck in completing such a difficult task.
A source.
