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As modern warfare is adapting to asymmetric warfare, so does
electronic combat, which is diverging from the fixation on engagement
in the vicious circle of EW-ECM-ECCM towards addressing the sophisticated, commercial communications
and electronic systems, currently used by terrorists and insurgents. The
new threat systems range
from devices used maintaining loose control over a diversified
network of collaborators to the employment of sophisticated IEDs triggered by
cellular phones and used as remote controls. Several systems
developed to combat these threats were introduced at Eurosatory.
 A
new complex of Cellular SIGINT and EW systems was exhibited by Tadiran Electronic Systems,
a subsidiary of the Elisra Group, which has developed these
capabilities as a result of the Israeli war against terror. These new
systems enable military and law
enforcement security forces to track, trace and engage suspect
cellular phones. In contrast to common use of "brute force" jamming,
in the attempt to disrupt communications or isolate a suspected IED from the cellular network, the new system employs selective
jamming, therefore enabling continued operation of friendly units
while incapacitating suspected or unidentified cell-phones. When specific
sets are identified as "suspects", they can be individually
intercepted, localized and deactivated by the use of Elisra's
hand-held passive Locator, which can lead intervention forces to the
suspect source, or the intervention force can use the Cellective, a selective cellular jammer to
deactivate the suspected device even without locating it. This new
ensemble enables security forces to intervene in an evolving situation
in a "surgical" way, without alarming or inconveniencing the local population, or alerting
the suspects.
A different system, which can be used as a powerful IED countermeasure,
is the
High Power Electro-Magnetics
(HEPM) system, available from Diehl and Rheinmetall Defense. HPEM
can be effective against roadside bombs and IEDs containing electronic
devices (such as acellphone or any other electronic actuating
device). An HPEM based counter IED system can cause controlled
explosion or deactivation of the charge at a safe distance from the
protected vehicle. Rheinmetall and Diehl are offering several types of
HPEM modules, including concealed devices that can be embedded in the doors of police cars
or convoy protectors. These devices enable highway patrols to stop a suspect
vehicle when driving side by side. A similar system can be used to
protect a vehicle or a convoy from IEDs. (A typical application was
demonstrated by the GEFAS concept vehicle). Different systems
developed by both companies will offer ultra-wideband HPEM coverage,
from Megaherz to Gigaherz, effectively denying all types of
communications with either directional or omni-directional coverage. A
typical system is the compact, battery operated
DS-110, which disrupts
and destroys processor driven electronic modules in any system, by
generating resets or inducing power latch-ups, therefore immediately
neutralizing the target. The basic system is omni-directional but it
can be configured to generate a directional radiation pattern.
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