6. Spectrum Warfare

Spectrum Warfare is a more modern moniker for the process of using the electromagnetic spectrum for detecting, identifying, jamming, and intercepting an enemy's electromagnetic transmission. The following sections cover several of the types of Spectrum Warfare modeled in the game.

6.1 Air Search Radar (ASR)

These radar systems scan the sky for all types of aerial targets and are generally part of or tied into air defense systems with guns and missiles. These radar systems can scan tens or hundreds of miles and are only limited by the curvature of the earth and the height of the target. Radar is an active system and can be detected much further than it can detect most targets.

6.2 Ground Search Radar (GSR)

Like Air Search Radars, the Ground Search Radar looks for vehicles and troops across the battlefield. While detection ranges are 10 to 20km at best and are blocked by ground clutter, these systems can find moving or stationary vehicles and troops when other systems can't. Like other radars, these systems can be detected at ranges greater than they can detect targets.

6.3 Weapon Locating Radar (WLR)

Being a recent development in the Cold War, Weapon Location Radars are used to detect the launch of ballistic artillery munitions and compute the launch area for counter-battery to fire on. Ranges are limited in the 10s of kilometers to the firing battery, and the type of munitions also impacts detection and range. This is also an active emitter that can be detected by the enemy with the right equipment.

6.4 Radio Traffic

Issuing orders requires sending many messages with radio systems. These signals can be detected and located by various Electronic Support Measures equipment. This interception and detection/location is abstracted in the game, and in some instances, you are alerted to the presence of enemy headquarters on the map and can then order artillery or air strike against these command nodes. The same thing can happen to your headquarters as well. So, limiting orders and moving headquarters units is a necessity to keep them alive and contributing to the battle.

6.5 Electronic Support Measures (ESM)

Electronic Support Measures, or ESM, is a term referring to the use of signal detection/interception equipment and the determination of what those signals are and what actions to take for them. In the game, these are abstracted to both radar and radio interceptions and the plotting of the locations of those detected systems. From there, the player can decide to engage those with targets with artillery fire or airstrikes to degrade the enemy's combat capabilities.

6.6 Jamming/Deception

Each scenario has an Electronic Warfare (EW) level that is set for each hour of the battle, and these abstract capabilities reflect your forces' ability to jam or spoof communications and impact the command cycle of the enemy. The higher the EW level, the more delayed the command network is, and forces respond more slowly to new threats or information.