The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is an unseen but integral part of
our daily lives. Almost every one of us uses a remote (or EM
transmitter) to control our television and unlock our car. We use mobile
phones (or EM transceivers) to constantly stay in touch with 
each
other by talking, e-mailing and texting. And, for more than a century
we have relied on radio (or an EM receiver) and later television for
news and entertainment. Important as the EM spectrum is in our personal
lives, however, it is essential to our military operations. Failing to
use it effectively can, no… actually it will be the difference between
victory and defeat.
Now, we have also seen a merging in the last few years of the EM spectrum and cyberspace. High-bandwidth wireless networks in our homes, businesses and public spaces and satellite internet access for ships at sea and troops on the ground have made the electromagnetic spectrum an integral part of computer networks. Similarly, EM sensors such as radars and radiofrequency listening devices have become integral with the computer networks that control them and process their output.
This new EM and cyber environment presents us with challenges and opportunities in the 21st century similar to the undersea domain in the 20th century. Like the undersea domain, the EM and cyber environment is an area we can use to gain an advantage over our adversaries. To command this new environment, we need the ability to monitor and be aware of the environment, manage our emissions, discretely communicate, find, track and defeat threats, and conduct attacks as needed.
Today
we are inextricably connected to the EM and cyber environment, and
occasionally we conduct military operations in it. This situation
parallels in many ways the period around the First World War, when
submarines transited on the surface, preferred to submerge only to
clandestinely move into firing position, and then surfaced to attack. In
subsequent years, submarines spent more time submerged, and with the
advent of nuclear power, no longer need to surface or snorkel. As a
matter of survival, we developed an understanding of underwater
acoustics and the ocean environment, a culture of sound silencing, and a
doctrine of operating under water – eventually turning the undersea
environment into a primary warfighting domain.
We need to make a similar advancement in our command of the EM and cyber environment. Our Sailors need to sense, understand and employ the EM and cyber environment in a similar way that submariners (officers and enlisted) eventually mastered acoustics and the undersea domain. Today we understand how specific adversary radars and communications systems work, emissions that indicate a threat or attack, which signals and techniques can defeat those EM systems, and the effects of the atmosphere on EM activity. But this knowledge and capability is discreetly inherent in different – but specific – systems and people, and is not managed in real time. Going forward we will develop the sensors and ability to pull all this information together coherently and continuously.
Our Navy’s undersea dominance resulted from the vision, discipline, and determination of Navy leaders and Sailors from World War I to today. They took a new and challenging domain and committed themselves to mastering it. However, they had the benefit of a clear technological and personnel advantage and built on their hard work and sustained investment.
We
do not have such a clear advantage with regard to the EM and cyber
environment. Unlike the undersea domain, most of the world uses the EM
spectrum and cyberspace. Our potential adversaries can leverage
commercial innovations to rapidly adapt and develop new capabilities. We
need to tap into this same source of innovation. But we will also
develop and leverage those strengths that are impossible to
“reverse-engineer” – the skill and perseverance of our Sailors, the
expertise and flexibility of our defense research base, our expanding
international alliances and partnerships, and our history of adaptation
and warfighting success.
We will further discuss this challenge and our efforts to command the electromagnetic and cyber environment in upcoming posts and articles. Stay tuned.
JONATHAN W. GREENERT
Admiral, U.S. Navy
http://cno.navylive.dodlive.mil/2012/07/24/commanding-the-electromagnetic-and-cyber-environment/
each
other by talking, e-mailing and texting. And, for more than a century
we have relied on radio (or an EM receiver) and later television for
news and entertainment. Important as the EM spectrum is in our personal
lives, however, it is essential to our military operations. Failing to
use it effectively can, no… actually it will be the difference between
victory and defeat.Now, we have also seen a merging in the last few years of the EM spectrum and cyberspace. High-bandwidth wireless networks in our homes, businesses and public spaces and satellite internet access for ships at sea and troops on the ground have made the electromagnetic spectrum an integral part of computer networks. Similarly, EM sensors such as radars and radiofrequency listening devices have become integral with the computer networks that control them and process their output.
This new EM and cyber environment presents us with challenges and opportunities in the 21st century similar to the undersea domain in the 20th century. Like the undersea domain, the EM and cyber environment is an area we can use to gain an advantage over our adversaries. To command this new environment, we need the ability to monitor and be aware of the environment, manage our emissions, discretely communicate, find, track and defeat threats, and conduct attacks as needed.
Today
we are inextricably connected to the EM and cyber environment, and
occasionally we conduct military operations in it. This situation
parallels in many ways the period around the First World War, when
submarines transited on the surface, preferred to submerge only to
clandestinely move into firing position, and then surfaced to attack. In
subsequent years, submarines spent more time submerged, and with the
advent of nuclear power, no longer need to surface or snorkel. As a
matter of survival, we developed an understanding of underwater
acoustics and the ocean environment, a culture of sound silencing, and a
doctrine of operating under water – eventually turning the undersea
environment into a primary warfighting domain.We need to make a similar advancement in our command of the EM and cyber environment. Our Sailors need to sense, understand and employ the EM and cyber environment in a similar way that submariners (officers and enlisted) eventually mastered acoustics and the undersea domain. Today we understand how specific adversary radars and communications systems work, emissions that indicate a threat or attack, which signals and techniques can defeat those EM systems, and the effects of the atmosphere on EM activity. But this knowledge and capability is discreetly inherent in different – but specific – systems and people, and is not managed in real time. Going forward we will develop the sensors and ability to pull all this information together coherently and continuously.
Our Navy’s undersea dominance resulted from the vision, discipline, and determination of Navy leaders and Sailors from World War I to today. They took a new and challenging domain and committed themselves to mastering it. However, they had the benefit of a clear technological and personnel advantage and built on their hard work and sustained investment.
We
do not have such a clear advantage with regard to the EM and cyber
environment. Unlike the undersea domain, most of the world uses the EM
spectrum and cyberspace. Our potential adversaries can leverage
commercial innovations to rapidly adapt and develop new capabilities. We
need to tap into this same source of innovation. But we will also
develop and leverage those strengths that are impossible to
“reverse-engineer” – the skill and perseverance of our Sailors, the
expertise and flexibility of our defense research base, our expanding
international alliances and partnerships, and our history of adaptation
and warfighting success.We will further discuss this challenge and our efforts to command the electromagnetic and cyber environment in upcoming posts and articles. Stay tuned.
JONATHAN W. GREENERT
Admiral, U.S. Navy
http://cno.navylive.dodlive.mil/2012/07/24/commanding-the-electromagnetic-and-cyber-environment/