TABLE OF CONTENTS Military radar may be subjected to deliberate interference by an enemy. Such an interfering tactic is called a radar countermeasure (CM). When it employs electromagnetic radiation such as jamming, it is called an electronic countermeasure (ECM). A technique employed in the radar to mitigate these interfering tactics is called a counter-countermeasure (CCM), or electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM).
Radar countermeasures may attempt to:
Mask targets of interest to the radar by using, for example, electronic jamming signals or radar volume chaff;
Overload or confuse the radar operator or signal processor by generating large numbers of false targets, either electronically or with physical objects;
Deceive the radar operator or signal processor by using false electronic targets or physical objects, often called decoys, that resemble the targets of interest.
Most military radars employ CCMs to eliminate or reduce the impact of the CMs. Radar CCMs may employ:
Radar design features that improve performance in countermeasure environments. Examples are low antenna sidelobes and high-resolution waveforms.
Radar operating modes and procedures that respond to the countermeasures employed. Examples are use of high-energy waveforms and pulse integration, and precise tracking and radar signature measurements.
Special CM circuits, techniques, and actions, such as sidelobe blankers, sidelobe cancellers, added transmitter power for burnthrough, and passive tracking.
The CM designer attempts to exploit weaknesses in the radar design, while the radar designer attempts to anticipate potential CMs and provide CCMs that reduce their effectiveness. While it may not be possible to eliminate entirely the effects of CMs, their impact...
