Systems Engineering in Electronic Warfare and Battlefield Communications Systems

Battlefield Communications have been used since ancient times, and have undergone rapid improvements in recent years. The earliest known battlefield communication techniques over long distances used messengers, smoke signals, carrier pigeons, and flags. In the last 75 years, there have been great improvements through the use of copper wire, then again in the use of wireless systems and optical fiber. The use of the electro-magnetic spectrum for communications has become invaluable for the modern military force. C4I (Command, Control, Communication, Computation, and Intelligence) is now supported greatly through the use of Combat Network Radio (CNR) and other Battlefield Information and Communication Systems. Communications and Information Systems have enabled forces to be more efficient and effective in their operational environments. Not long after the first use of electronic communications, soldiers saw the advantages and weakness of the new communication medium and Electronic Warfare (EW) was developed. This paper discusses recent developments in EW and Battlefield Communications along with their fundamental concepts. In addition, the challenges that systems engineers face in design and validation of these complex systems is explored