The Department of Defense’s upcoming release of its Electronic Warfare Strategy (EWS) represents the Pentagon’s first major step towards consolidating investments in electronic warfare technology and detailing efforts to utilize electromagnetic spectrum tools for offensive capabilities, according to Dr. William Conley, deputy director of Electronic Warfare for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD AT&L).
Conley spoke on June 22 at an Air Force Association Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event, and detailed the plan to equip forces with adaptive and integrated electronic warfare capabilities and the establishment of the new Electronic Warfare Executive Committee.
Deputy Defense Secretary Robert “Bob” Work in March 2015 directed that the EWS be established. It is meant to organize the electronic warfare enterprise to ensure complete utilization of electromagnetic spectrum capabilities, to train the future workforce on electronic warfare operations, to best equip the forces with the latest technology, and to bolster electronic warfare partnerships with industry, academia, and allied partners, according to Conley.
“The first three goals basically say: man, train & equip,” said Conley, speaking on the EWS, which is intended for release in summer 2017. “Broadly, we have to make sure the document is shareable and releasable”
The soon-to-be-released strategy was deliberately made unclassified so all parties would be on the same page regarding forthcoming plans, but the following implementation plan will be secret, according to Conley.
Oversight of EWS implementation will be done by the new Electronic Warfare Executive Committee, to be co-chaired by the USD AT&L and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The committee was recommended by Work following a Defense Science Board report calling for consolidated electronic warfare leadership.
“This gives us a forum to talk about budget issues, and makes the systems upon systems that we operate work on a whole,” Conley said.
The EWS committee will provide senior oversight coordination on acquisition and training matters, provide budget and capability synchronization and bring together experts to discuss new electromagnetic spectrum issues.
Acquiring domain superiority in electronic warfare requires keeping pace with the growing electromagnetic spectrum capabilities being produced, Conley said. A focus of the EWS is ensuring that the DoD and allied partners are pacing competition so as to equip forces with the most up-to-date in electromagnetic technology for warfighters.
Conley identified particular areas of strategic thinking in the EWS to meet near-full utilization of electromagnetic spectrum capabilities, including increasing commercial investment, writing appropriate operation requirements to capitalize on offensive advantages, building on training opportunities and the need for more sufficient testing data.
Electromagnetic spectrum technology can be implemented to jam adversaries communication abilities and help to intercept incoming drones or aircraft, according to Conley.