Army Seeks to Update Its Electronic Warfare CapabilitiesMarch 05, 2009

 

The U.S. Army is updating its manual for electronic warfare in an attempt to better protect its soldiers from roadside bombs and other weapons deployed by insurgents who are becoming more sophisticated in their attacks.

The 112-page manual doesn't suggest any specific methods or equipment that should be sought by the Army, but it does note that without proper training and new technology to counter the insurgents' use of non-traditional weapons like improvised explosive devices (IEDs), U.S. soldiers will be at a disadvantage, the Associated Press reported.

The manual stresses the need to develop directed-energy weapons like high-powered microwaves, lasers and infrared beams to disable or attack enemy targets, and also to be used for crowd control, according to Associated Press. The manual also calls for implementing wireless networks and other jammers to confuse or disable enemy communications.

At present the Army relies on the U.S. Air Force and Navy to help disable IEDs. The Air Force, however, jams signals from 30,000 feet in the air — in effect disabling all communications directly below. The Army is hoping to create a more finely tuned system that can distinguish enemy threats from common technologies such as radios or cell phones used by civilians or friendly forces, according to the article.