OECM Tactics Question

[DWReese]

This question is for any who may have played around with OECM aircraft and strikes:

If I have two OECM aircraft available for my strike (it doesn't matter what kind) I'd like to know what is the best way to deploy the OECM aircraft to be the most efficient. I do realize that the OECM planes should be in the general direction of the incoming strike, so the question assumes that they will be.

Options:

1.) I could place both with the incoming strike group heading directly for the target. Do you get any benefit from having more than one PLANE armed with the same OECM equipment?

2.) I could place one with the strike group, and another slightly off axis. Does this help at all?

3.) I could place both slightly off axis from the strike group as it approaches. Since I see this as being two OECM planes coming in from opposite 45 degree angles, it would seem that this would provide a wider jamming field, but would it degrade the strength of the jamming?

I've been testing it, but I don't see much difference. Has anyone done something like this? (I assume that they have.) Which method is best? I'm looking for a general answer, and not one that is specific to any particular, or specific, OECM plane.

Thanks in advance.

[caelunshun]

This is a great question and I don't really know the answer; would love to hear if anyone has tested this. Normally I do option (1) since I think it definitely has an effect (multiple jammers at once seem to have their power output added together). Useful video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI-ZwDubiMY

IRL, I suspect options 2 and 3 would be useful since you can theoretically create some interesting effects by combining two jamming beams from different directions. For example, even against AESA radars, you could plausibly generate false targets at angles different from the jamming axis, whereas with only one jamming aircraft, that seems impossible against sufficiently modern radars. I would be surprised if CMO modeled this, however, since this sort of EW is all highly technical and classified.

For what it's worth, while not directly related to the question, I often find it helpful to compare different jamming equipment beyond the vague data provided in the database viewer. You can do this by opening the DB in a program like DB Browser for SQLite and checking the DataSensors table. There, you can inspect values like ECMPeakPower, which I think is the primary factor (besides the tech generation) in determining how effective a particular jammer is.

For example, by inspecting the DB, you can figure out that "Generic OECM [Advanced] (2020s)" is actually a very poor jammer compared to AN/ALQ-249 or J-15D OECM.

[thewood1]

There are a lot easier ways to test jamming for outcome-based analysis. Just build a simple scenario.

[caelunshun]

There are a lot easier ways to test jamming for outcome-based analysis. Just build a simple scenario.

Sure, but that's nowhere near as fun for me : )

The raw numbers can be pretty interesting and help understand the model a little better.

[Fido81]

With respect to the question in Option 1):

My understanding is that the benefit from multiple jammer escorts comes from the fact that OECM emitters can only jam a limited number of hostile emitters. If my sole ECM escort is capable of jamming 10 radars, and the other side has 25 threatening radars, I still have something of a problem.

[DWReese]

If my sole ECM escort is capable of jamming 10 radars, and the other side has 25 threatening radars, I still have something of a problem.

I don't know how it actually works, but let's assume, for the sake of discussion, that this OECM plane can jam 10 radars.

My question is: if a second unit were to accompany the first, then you could potentially jam 20. But, if the second unit was off to the side on a different axis, yet still heading for the target, is that now a total of 20 radars jammed. or is it only 15 because they aren't together? In other words, is it better to be together as jammers, or separated?

In testing, the only indication that anything is working is when you see the word "jammed" next to the unit. Using the Editor, you can switch sides and see that all of the units have been jammed with just one OECM plane. Is there a degree of jammed, or is jammed 'slightly jammed' and 'thoroughly jammed' still just jammed? Is there even a degree of jammed, or is it merely a yes or no issue?

Furthermore, if everything is jammed by one OECM aircraft, is there any benefit of having two?

[blu3s]

I made several tests about it and published some graphs here. In general, always always on the same axis as your strike group, you are penalized a lot as soon as you move away from the axis.

More jammers don't degrade a radar more, but they allow you to jam on more axes and more units.

[Parel803]

Good morning,
Interesting to follow. Thx for question and answers.
Would it be beneficial to see in DB viewer some more data on OECM? Data that influence the planning outcome?
regards GJ

[DWReese]

In general, always always on the same axis as your strike group, you are penalized a lot as soon as you move away from the axis.

Thank you for that info. That answers my question.