EW Networked and Multi-Domain Systems

- Overview 

EW Networked & Multi-Domain systems are Electronic Warfare systems that are designed to operate across all military domains (land, sea, air, space, and cyber) and are connected via a seamless network. This approach is central to the military strategy of Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO), which aims to provide commanders with a unified, real-time understanding of the battlespace to make faster, more effective decisions than adversaries. 

1. Core Concept: 

The primary goal is to integrate traditionally separate domain-specific systems into a single, cohesive network. 

This integration allows for:

• Seamless Information Sharing: Data and intelligence gathered by a sensor on a ground vehicle can be instantly shared with an aircraft or a naval ship.
• Synchronized Operations: Forces across different domains can coordinate their actions in real-time, enabling rapid, synchronized combat effects.
• Enhanced Situational Awareness: Commanders gain a holistic view of the battlefield, allowing them to identify, evaluate, and neutralize threats more rapidly and effectively across all domains.

2. Key Features:

• Interoperability: The systems are built with open architectures and common standards to ensure different service-specific platforms can communicate effectively.
• Cross-Domain Capabilities: An advantage in one domain, such as cyber or electronic warfare, can be leveraged to create effects in another, like air or maritime.
• Speed and Agility: The rapid exchange of data and the use of AI help accelerate the "sensor-to-shooter" loop, allowing forces to operate inside an adversary's decision-making cycle.
• Resilience: Network designs emphasize preventing disruption or jamming, ensuring reliable communication even in contested environments.

3. Role in Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO): 

EW networked and multi-domain systems are a foundational element for JADO (also known as Joint All-Domain Command and Control, or JADC2). 

Specific programs like the U.S. Army's Terrestrial Layer System (TLS) and the Air Force's Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) are examples of efforts to field these integrated, multi-domain EW capabilities across ground, air, and sea platforms.

They enable the joint force to:

• Conduct Electronic Attack (EA): Disrupt enemy communications or sensors using systems like jammers or anti-radiation missiles.
• Perform Electronic Protection (EP): Safeguard friendly systems from enemy electronic interference using techniques like frequency hopping or signal hardening.
• Provide Electronic Support (ES): Locate and identify enemy electronic signals to gather intelligence and target data.