Electronic warfare Electronic warfare ( EW ) refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum , attack an enemy , or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum . The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of , and ensure friendly unimpeded access to , the EM spectrum . EW can be applied from air , sea , land , and space by manned and unmanned systems , and can target humans , communications , radar , or other assets . The electromagnetic environment . Military operations are executed in an information environment increasingly complicated by the electromagnetic ( EM ) spectrum . The electromagnetic spectrum portion of the information environment is referred to as the electromagnetic environment ( EME ) . The recognized need for military forces to have unimpeded access to and use of the electromagnetic environment creates vulnerabilities and opportunities for electronic warfare ( EW ) in support of military operations . Within the information operations construct , EW is an element of information warfare ; more specifically , it is an element of offensive and defensive counterinformation . Electronic warfare applications . Electronic warfare is any military action involving the use of the EM spectrum to include directed energy ( DE ) to control the EM spectrum or to attack an enemy . This is not limited to radio or radar frequencies but includes IR , visible , ultraviolet , and other less used portions of the EM spectrum . This includes self - protection , standoff , and escort jamming , and antiradiation attacks . EW is a specialized tool that enhances many air and space functions at multiple levels of conflict . The purpose of EW is to deny the opponent an advantage in the EM spectrum and ensure friendly unimpeded access to the EM spectrum portion of the information environment . EW can be applied from air , sea , land , and space by manned and unmanned systems . EW is employed to support military operations involving various levels of detection , denial , deception , disruption , degradation , protection , and destruction . EW contributes to the success of information operations ( IO ) by using offensive and defensive tactics and techniques in a variety of combinations to shape , disrupt , and exploit adversarial use of the EM spectrum while protecting friendly freedom of action in that spectrum . Expanding reliance on the EM spectrum increases both the potential and the challenges of EW in information operations . All of the core , supporting , and related information operations capabilities either directly use EW or indirectly benefit from EW . The principal EW activities have been developed over time to exploit the opportunities and vulnerabilities that are inherent in the physics of EM energy . Activities used in EW include : electro - optical , infrared and radio frequency countermeasures ; EM compatibility and deception ; EM hardening , interference , intrusion , and jamming ; electronic masking , probing , reconnaissance , and intelligence ; electronics security ; EW reprogramming ; emission control ; spectrum management ; and wartime reserve modes . Subdivisions . Electronic warfare includes three major subdivisions : electronic attack ( EA ) , electronic protection ( EP ) , and electronic warfare support ( ES ) . " Electronic attack " involves the use of EM energy , directed energy , or antiradiation weapons to attack personnel , facilities , or equipment with the intent of degrading , neutralizing , or destroying enemy combat capability . " Electronic protection " involves actions taken to protect personnel , facilities , and equipment from any effects of friendly or enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum that degrade , neutralize , or destroy friendly combat capability . " Electronic warfare support " is the subdivision of EW involving actions tasked by , or under direct control of , an operational commander to search for , intercept , identify , and locate or localize sources of intentional and unintentional radiated EM energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition , targeting , planning , and conduct of future operations . These measures begin with systems designed and operators trained to make Electronic Intercepts ( ELINT ) and then classification and analysis broadly known as Signals intelligence from such detections to return information and perhaps actionable intelligence ( e . g . a ship ' s identification from unique characteristics of a specific radar ) to the commander . Electronic warfare support . Electronic Warfare Support ( ES ) , is the subdivision of EW involving actions tasked by , or under direct control of , an operational commander to search for , intercept , identify , and locate or localize sources of intentional and unintentional radiated electromagnetic ( EM ) energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition , targeting , planning , and conduct of future operations . An overlapping discipline , signals intelligence ( SIGINT ) is the related process of analyzing and identifying the intercepted frequencies ( e . g . as a mobile phone or RADAR ) . SIGINT is broken into three categories : ELINT , COMINT , and FISINT . the parameters of intercepted txn are - : communication equipment - : freq , bandwidth , modulation , polarisation etc . The distinction between intelligence and electronic warfare support ( ES ) is determined by who tasks or controls the collection assets , what they are tasked to provide , and for what purpose they are tasked . Electronic warfare support is achieved by assets tasked or controlled by an operational commander . The purpose of ES tasking is immediate threat recognition , targeting , planning and conduct of future operations , and other tactical actions such as threat avoidance and homing . However , the same assets and resources that are tasked with ES can simultaneously collect intelligence that meets other collection requirements . Where these activities are under the control of an operational commander and being applied for the purpose of situational awareness , threat recognition , or EM targeting , they also serve the purpose of Electronic Warfare surveillance ( ES ) . Electronic attack . Electronic attack ( EA ) or electronic countermeasures ( ECM ) involves the use of electromagnetic energy , or counter - electromagnetic radiation weapons to attack personnel , facilities , or equipment with the intention of directly affecting , degrading , neutralizing , or destroying an enemy ' s combat capability ( see Joint Publication [ JP ] 3 - 09 , Joint Fire Support ) . EA operations can be detected by an adversary depending on his level of technological sophistication and readiness . Many modern EA techniques are considered to be highly classified . Examples of EA include communications jamming , IADS suppression , Directed Energy Weapon ( DEW ) / LASER attack , expendable decoys ( e . g . , flares and chaff ) , and radio controlled improvised explosive device ( RCIED ) systems . Electronic protection . Electronic Protection ( EP ) ( previously known as electronic protective measures ( EPM ) or electronic counter countermeasures ( ECCM ) ) involves actions taken to protect personnel , facilities , and equipment from any effects of friendly or enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum that degrade , neutralize , or destroy friendly combat capability . Jamming is not part of EP , it is an EA measure . The use of flare rejection logic on an IR missile to counter an adversary ’ s use of flares is EP . While defensive EA actions and EP both protect personnel , facilities , capabilities , and equipment , EP protects from the " effects " of EA ( friendly and / or adversary ) . Other examples of EP include spread spectrum technologies , use of Joint Restricted Frequency List ( JRFL ) , emissions control ( EMCON ) , and low observability or " stealth " . Electronic Warfare Self Protection . An Electronic Warfare Self Protection ( EWSP ) is a suite of countermeasure systems fitted primarily to aircraft for the purpose of protecting the aircraft from weapons fire and can include among others : DIRCM ( protects against IR missiles ) , Infrared countermeasures ( protects against IR missiles ) , Chaff ( protects against RADAR guided missiles ) , Flare ( protects against IR missiles ) . Electronic Warfare Tactics Range . An Electronic Warfare Tactics Range ( EWTR ) is a practice range which provides for the training of aircrew in electronic warfare . There are two such ranges in Europe ; one at RAF Spadeadam in the United Kingdom and the POLYGON range in Germany and France . EWTRs are equipped with ground - based equipment to simulate electronic warfare threats that aircrew might encounter on missions . See also . Electronic Warfare Systems : Historic : US specific :