Book Review

Review

Joint Publication 3-13.1 Electronic Warfare, US Joint Staff, 25 January 2007.

Reviewed by Michael Ryan

In January 2007, the Joint Staff issued Joint Publication 3-13.1 Electronic Warfare, which updated the previous joint EW doctrine contained in Joint Publication 3-51 Joint Doctrine for Electronic Warfare issued in April 2000.

In 115 pages, JP3-13.1 sets forth the doctrine ‘… to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in operations and provides the doctrinal basis for interagency coordination and for US military involvement in multinational operations. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders and prescribes joint doctrine for operations and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans.’

As expected in the first major update of joint EW doctrine in seven years, there are a number of changes in this issue of EW doctrine. The first noticeable change is in the more formal discussion of EW as one of the five core capabilities of information operations (IO) along with computer network operations (CNO), psychological operations (PSYOP), operations security (OPSEC), and military deception (MILDEC). This change is reflected in the re-numbering of the EW doctrine from JP 3-51 to JP 3-13.1 to sit in the information operations family of doctrine under JP 13-1 Information Operations. JP 3.13-1 summarises the EW contribution to IO as ‘… using offensive and defensive tactics and techniques in a variety of combinations to shape, disrupt, and exploit adversarial use of the EM spectrum while protecting friendly freedom of action in that spectrum.’ Also included is a complete discussion of EW coordination with the core, supporting, and related capabilities of IO.

JP 3-13.1 has five chapters, the main thrusts of which are summarised in an executive summary. Further elaborating details are provided in eight appendices and a glossary.

Chapter 1 provides an overview of EW including the EM environment and its impact on military operations, the role of EW and its effects on military operations, the relationship of EW to the global information grid (GIG) and IO, directed energy as part of EW, principal EW activities, intelligence and EW support, and services perspectives on EW. Major changes in this chapter include discussions of offensive and defensive electronic attack; of EW as one of the core capabilities of IO; and of the effects of EW, relating EW to the phases of a joint campaign or operation.

In Chapter 2 discussion focuses on organising for joint EW including joint EW responsibilities, organisation, frequency management, organisation of intelligence support to EW, and service organisation for EW. Additional discussion in this chapter includes the relationship of EW to the GIG, and the addition of countermeasures as a principal EW activity.

Chapter 3 provides coverage of planning for joint EW including EW planning considerations, a joint EW planning process, planning guidance, and planning aids. New material here includes discussion of joint EW responsibilities and an expanded discussion of joint EW organisation, discussion of EW support against a non-traditional threat, coverage of unintended consequences and meteorological and oceanographic consideration, update to discussion of planning to reflect the joint operation planning process planning steps, and discussion of reachback resources.

Chapter 4 addresses coordinating joint EW including joint coordination and control, component coordination procedures, and EW and intelligence coordination. Changes in this chapter include coverage of joint EW organisational coordination, and a discussion of EW coordination with the core, supporting, and related capabilities of IO.

Chapter 5 provides details of multinational aspects of EW including multinational force EW organisation and command and control, multinational EW coordination cell with allied forces, multinational EW with Australian Army’s standardisation program and air and space interoperability council member nations, multinational EW coordination cell with other allies and coalition partners, EW mutual support, and releasability of EW information to allies and multinational forces.

There are eight appendices covering EW guidance, EW frequency deconfliction procedures, Joint Spectrum Center support to joint EW, EW reprogramming, EW modelling, Services perspectives of EW, references, and administrative instructions.

The glossary contains abbreviations and acronyms, and terms and definitions. Changes here include updates of the definitions of the terms ‘CEASE BUZZER’, ‘chattermark’, ‘electronic attack’, electronic intelligence’, ‘electronic protection’, ‘electronic warfare’, electronic protection’, ‘electronic warfare’, electronic warfare reprogramming’, and ‘electronic warfare support’. Additional definitions are also included for the terms ‘electro-optical-infrared countermeasures’, ‘radio frequency countermeasures’, and ‘spectrum management’.

JP3-13.1 provides an excellent update of joint EW doctrine and addresses a number of important aspects for the modern battlespace, particularly when facing non-traditional threats. In particular, the more detailed discussion of the relationship of EW and IO is welcomed as both doctrines continue to be redefined to support joint operations to face modern adversaries.