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Definition[]

Electronic protection (EP) is the

[d]ivision of electronic warfare involving actions taken to protect personnel, facilities, and equipment from any effects of friendly, neutral, or enemy use of the EMS, as well as naturally occurring phenomena that degrade, neutralize, or destroy friendly combat capability.[1]

Overview[]

For example, electronic protection includes actions taken to ensure friendly use of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as frequency agility in a radio, or variable pulse repetition frequency in radar. Electronic protection should not be confused with self-protection. Both defensive electronic attack and electronic protection protect personnel, facilities, capabilities, and equipment. However, electronic protection protects from the effects of electronic attack (friendly and enemy), while defensive electronic attack primarily protects against lethal attacks by denying enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum to guide or trigger weapons.

Activities related to electronic protection include —

During operations, electronic protection includes, but is not limited to, the application of training and procedures for countering enemy electronic attack.

Electronic protection measures minimize the enemy’s ability to conduct electronic warfare support and electronic attack operations successfully against friendly forces. To protect friendly combat capabilities, units —

  • Regularly brief force personnel on the electronic warfare threat.
  • Ensure that electronic system capabilities are safeguarded during exercises, workups, and predeployment training.
  • Coordinate and deconflict electromagnetic spectrum usage.
  • Provide training during routine home station planning and training activities on appropriate electronic protection active and passive measures.
  • Take appropriate actions to minimize the vulnerability of friendly receivers to enemy jamming (such as reduced power, brevity of transmissions, and directional antennas).

Electronic protection also includes spectrum management. Spectrum managers or their direct representatives participate in the planning for electronic warfare operations.

The development and acquisition of communications and electronic systems includes electronic protection requirements to clarify performance parameters. Army forces design their equipment to limit inherent vulnerabilities. If electronic attack vulnerabilities are detected, then units must review these programs.

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