TABLE OF CONTENTS In this chapter, criteria for the specification of electronic defense (ED) equipment are discussed. The objective is to try to remove the over-specification problem that generally arises from emotional considerations and that, neglecting compatibility, effectiveness, and, most importantly, cost-effectiveness, requires an improvement of all parameters: more sensitivity, more frequency precision, more ERP, more coverage, less weight, and less cost.
Design criteria, seen by a contractor who must design and manufacture a piece of equipment, starting from its specification, will first be analyzed. Then the point of view of the user, who must determine operational requirements for the equipment, will be discussed.
The logical process leading to the specification of ED equipment should be as follows [1, 2]:
The objective of the equipment should be defined, taking into account both the operational environment and the platform on which the equipment will be fitted.
The analysis of the operational environment will determine the performance required of the equipment: Which type of signal must be intercepted? Will it be LPI or normal? Which type of radar must be jammed? Will it be monopulse or not?
In order to achieve the required performance against an identified threat, a thorough knowledge of the threat is necessary. Here, one of two criteria may be followed, depending on whether the threat is known specifically in all details, or is known only in a generic way.
In the first case, ad hoc devices can be designed. With these devices, however, one...
