Howdy! I hope you didn't come here for "Everything You  Wanted to Know About EW, but was Afraid To Ask".  I'm no where near that smart and as a member of the US Air Force I don't want to give away any trade secrets (not that I know any). With that said Electronic Warfare is a very intriguing subject! I have been working several different (Electronic Warfare & Electronic Counter Measures) EW/ECM platforms through out my Air Force career.

      I started out working on the ALR-69 Radar Warning Receiver on the A-10 Thunder Bolt II way back in 1993. The ALR-69 is basically a system that receives radar through a system of antennas. Once the radar is received a combination of amplifiers and processors disseminate the radars specifications and then display the threat on a scope for the pilot to see. The system also will let the pilot know when he is being tracked by an acquisition radar and then alert the pilot when a missile is launched.  After the pilot knows that he is being "painted" by a threat radar he can use the ALE-40 Chaff and Flare System to deploy countermeasures IE: chaff and flares. Chaff is used when being "painted" by a radar. Chaff is in the simplest explanation, small pieces of tin foil cut to specific lengths to misguide/annoy either a radar site or a missile that has a radar seeker head. Most of the ground launched SA- series "Russian Missiles" use radar to find their targets with the exception of the SA-7 which is a heat seeking missile fired from the ground, a lot like the US Stinger missile. When a heat seeking missile is traveling toward a target it focuses on the heat source, usually the engines. Flares are used to create a larger heat signature for the missile to follow. Using flares and a combination of jinking can trick the missile into following the flare instead of the engine, hence Pilot goes home to drink lots of beer at the O-Club. With the addition of the ALQ-131 Jamming Pod (which defeats radar guided missiles)  the Pilot can feel more confident going to battle and give him/her a greater chance of accomplishing the mission. 

    I spent a year in Osan AB Korea where I tucked my lighting bolts under my wing and took on the great challenge of the greatest airplane in the AF's inventory, the U-2 Dragon Lady. I worked on the "Senior Year" program which was not EW, but it has some of the same principles. This is a very sensitive subject so I'll have to get real general with you fine folks for a while! As most of you know the U-2 is a spy plane, what you may not know is that it does more than take pictures. The U-2 uses an elaborate mixture of antennas and receivers to gather Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) and send it back to a ground station in real time. While a member of the 5th Reconnaissance I would help launch out U-2's on what was usually a nine hour mission! After a successful mission the pilot would be greeted by virtually everyone and would be presented with a beverage of their choice usually beer God knows they deserve it! I can't imagine being stuck inside a VERY cramped cockpit for nine hours wearing a space suit with a very heavy helmet. They eat tube food fed through a straw and drink fluids with electrolytes to restore energy. If your wondering how they use the restroom that is a good question! Males use the Urinary Collection Devise (UCD) that is basically a condom with a hole cut out on the top that connects to a tube that dispenses into a pan for later removal/cleaning. Females on the other hand have no such luck they basically wear "Depends". You my be wondering how they take a dump? The answer to that question is they don't unless it is absolutely necessary. A good diet and regular schedule will keep the "Brown Ball" from happening. 

    I love my job in the Air Force and have done a lot of reading on the subject!  There are thousands of sites on the Web that will explain the "ins and outs" of EW/ECM. I will attempt to link a few of the best that are out there. 

Journal of Electronic Defense is the Main site for all things EW. This site will help the "newbie" to better understand Electronic Warfare Principles with EW 101. Not only that, but you will learn all sorts of stuff that I am amazed that it is here for all to view!

The Association of the Old Crows  is an organization to support the US and other friendly nations to achieve and adequate defensive capability. Basically, it's a bunch of old EW folks who like to reminisce about the past and help those today with scholarships and other community activities. If you are in ECM you should consider joining this organization!