Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) - MATLAB Simulations for Radar Systems Design - page 466

Electronic Countermeasures
(ECM)

Chapter 10

This chapter is coauthored with J. Michael Madewell 1

10.1. Introduction

Any deliberate electronic effort intended to disturb normal radar operation is
usually referred to as an Electronic Countermeasure (ECM). This may also
include chaff, radar decoys, radar RCS alterations (e.g., radio frequency
absorbing materials), and, of course, radar jamming.

In general, ECM is used by the offense to accomplish one, several, or possi-
bly all of the following objectives: (1) deny proper target detection; (2) gener-
ate operator confusion and / or deception; (3) force delays in detection and
tracking initiation; (4) generate false tracks of non-real targets; (5) overload
the radar computer with an excessive number of targets; (6) deny accurate
measurements of the target range and range rate; (7) force dropped tracks; and
(8) introduce errors in target position and range rate. Alternatively, the defense
may utilize Electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to overcome and
mitigate the effects of ECM on the radar. When deployed properly, ECCM
techniques and / or hardware can have the following effects: (1) prevent
receiver saturation; (2) maintain a reasonable CFAR rate; (3) enhance the sig-
nal to jammer ratio; (4) properly identify and discriminate directional interfer-
ence; (5) reject invalid targets; and (6) maintain true target tracks.

ECM techniques can be exploited by a radar system in many different ways
and can be categorized into two classes:

1. Mr. J. Michael Madewell is with the US Army Space and Missile Defense Com-
mand in Huntsville, Alabama.