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2019-12-05

NATO Tests Next-Gen Electronic Warfare

International waters all around the world are continuously facing new threats. For instance, the Horn of Africa has started to see a revival of the piracy threat. The Red Sea and the areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are currently facing unstable conditions owing to missiles, unmanned surface vessels, mines, or improvised waterborne-explosives. There are also concerns about activities such as illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean region, particularly in the South Pacific.

Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) recently conducted Electro Magnetic Operations (NEMO) trials off the coast of the United Kingdom. These trials, developed by NATO’s Above Water Warfare Capability Group (AWWCG), provide a venue for the alliance to evaluate the effectiveness and validate NATO Electronic Warfare (EW) tactics and systems.

Thirteen NATO countries took part in simulated air and missile defence drills off the UK’s southern coast. The six-day trials tested how allied navies can defend themselves against anti-ship cruise and hypersonic missiles using state-of-the-art electronic defences.

As part of the drill, allies sought to jam enemy missiles or divert them away from their targets, using modern electronic defences. NEMO 19 also saw the use of infrared and radar measurements to reduce the susceptibility of ships to enemy radars and missiles. Tactical data exchanges between participating ships as well as voice procedures if data links are jammed or tampered with were also put to the test.

The technology is meant to counter the growing threat of complex anti-ship missile systems proliferating around the globe. NEMO 19 took the so-called anti-access area-denial capabilities into account as NATO continues to adapt deterrence and defence posture. Reinforcing the alliance’s maritime posture is essential for ensuring its continued freedom of movement at sea.

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, and U.S. participated by sending ships, aircraft, measurement equipment and sailors. About 1,500 personnel, six ships and eight aircraft were involved in NEMO 19, which ran until November 5.

“While the impact of electronic warfare cannot always be physically seen, the potential effects it can have on maritime, air and land assets can be devastating if they are not detected early enough to prevent or combat,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Junae Glover, SNMG1’s staff chief electronic warfare specialist. “Having the opportunity to see the capabilities of our electronic systems while under simulated pressure during NEMO will allow forces to increase their knowledge and understanding of the warfare area.”

The 2019 iteration of NEMO trials saw a focus on force anti-ship missile defence, demonstrating improved means of achieving force defence to minimise the threat to NATO maritime forces.

The exercise also offered an opportunity for experimental tactics and procedures to be evaluated prior to NATO adopting them as formal doctrine for use by allied nations.

“With over 70 years of experience building common doctrine and procedures as well as interoperable systems, the alliance remains committed to staying at the forefront of technology, including in critical maritime areas like electronic warfare and anti-ship missile defence,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Edward Cashman, commander of Standing NATO Maritime Group One and head of NEMO trail 2019 forces.

“While NEMO has a science and technology focus on electromagnetic operations, the exercise will also offer NATO an opportunity to evaluate tactics, techniques and procedures, providing feedback to allied nations on the effectiveness of existing doctrine. As the maritime landscape continues to evolve, exercises such as NEMO will help maintain alliance nation forces at the forefront of capabilities while also demonstrating readiness and interoperability to any potential aggressors,” he added.

Aircraft from the United Kingdom Join Support Air Tasking Organization, and other air assets participated in NEMO to provide a realistic threat simulation. Maritime forces and land-based assets also worked simultaneously; ensuring allied nations took advantage of the opportunity to learn methods to exploit electronic warfare capabilities in a rapidly changing technical environment.

NEMO 19 also saw the use of infrared and radar measurements to reduce the susceptibility of ships to enemy radars and missiles. Tactical data exchanges between participating ships as well as voice procedures if data links are jammed or tampered with were also put to the test. The technology is meant to counter the growing threat of ever more complex anti-ship missile systems proliferating around the globe.

Source: U.S. Navy

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