6.1 Introduction

As soon as the effectiveness of ECM systems became apparent, weapon systems had to be protected by means of additional electronic devices that could counter the countermeasures. These devices were therefore called electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) systems [1 3]. This chapter will discuss the ECCM that weapon and communications systems can employ to operate in a hostile environment. The systems in question are:

• Search radar;

• Tracking radar;

• Electro-optical systems;

• Communications systems.

6.2 Search Radar Counter-Countermeasures

As was shown in Chapter 3, a search radar can be used either as an element of an air defense network covering a broad area, such as the NATO Air Defense Ground Equipment (NADGE) system, to provide a wide panoramic view, or, on a smaller scale, to organize the defense of a small area, for example, a ship or a convoy. In both cases, attack aircraft will attempt to avoid detection by adopting suitable flight paths and profiles, and, above all, ECM techniques [4].

For an attack by a single aircraft, the ECM that can be used against a search radar are few and of limited scope. They cannot do much more than attempt to cancel the platform echo while simultaneously trying to conceal the direction of arrival of the jamming.

For a coordinated attack supported by either an escort jammer, whose mission is the electronic defense of other platforms in a formation, or a standoff jammer, which protects other attacking platforms while remaining at a safe distance, the variety of usable jamming methods is...