Japanese MOD
warfare
Other NEWS examples are seen here. There vehicles may well be one of the subvariants optimised to collect signals intelligence.
systems in the guise of the Mitsubishi Electric NEWS electronic warfare platform. NEWS is an acronym for the Networked EW System which is mounted on a Toyota Type-73 truck. NEWS comprises four distinct systems; NEWS Type-1, Type-2, Type-3 and Type-4. Open sources state that each overs a different frequency band and has a different role. Development of NEWS commenced in 2010. Testing was completed in 2015. In 2020 the MOD allotted $87 million for the procurement of NEWS. Little information has been made available in the public domain regarding NEWS writ large. Open sources state that the ensemble can detect and jam threats in frequencies of 30 megahertz/MHz to circa 40 gigahertz. This will enable NEWS to detect, locate, characterise and attack a host of radio and radar emitters. This could include very/ultra high frequency conventional radio and Satellite Communications (SATCOM) on wavebands of 30MHz to three gigahertz/ GHz. Ground-based air surveillance, naval surveillance, airborne surveillance, weapons-locating and fire control radars and SATCOM transmitting in L-band (1.215GHz to 1.4GHz), S-band (2.3GHz to 2.5GHz/2.7GHz to 3.7GHz), C-band (5.25GHz to 5.925GHz) and X-band (8.5GHz to 10.68GHz) could also be detected and engaged. Higher up the radio spectrum NEWS could detect and engage fire control and
weapons guidance radars, and SATCOM transmitting in Ku-band (13.4GHz to 14GHz/15.7GHz to 17.7GHz) and Kaband (33.4GHz to 36GHz). An important caveat must be made regarding these impressive capabilities. Detecting and attacking any transmission in these frequencies depends on NEWS being within a line-of-sight range from these targets. Secondly, NEWS must have the wherewithal to defeat the low probability of detection/interception waveforms used by contemporary and future radar and radio systems. Nonetheless, given Japanese acumen in electronic engineering it would be unsurprising if such competencies have not been mastered. NEWS has already begun to furnish the 1 EW Bn. It will form the mainstay of the new JGSDF EW companies for the foreseeable future, which looks set to be characterised by continued instability in eastern Asia. This is likely to still be driven by DPRK and PRC muscleflexing. JGSDF EW investments indicate the force’s embrace of electromagnetic manoeuvre to achieve electromagnetic superiority and supremacy. In the worstcase scenario this will make the JGSDF a formidable player in the wartime electromagnetic domain. In the best case these capabilities will have deterrent value helping to keep the peace in this tense part of the world. AMR
| december 2021/january 2022 |
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