Radar jamming

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Radar jamming is the deliberate interference with a radar system’s operation by using radio frequency waves that aim to saturate the radar receiver with false signals. Radar jamming can be of two types, namely, mechanical and electronic. Mechanical jamming takes place by means of reflection by mechanical devices whereas electronic jamming is done by purposeful emission of confusing radio signals.

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Mechanical jamming

Devices used in mechanical jamming include chaff, decoys and corner reflectors.

  • Chaffs consist of metallic strips, mainly of plastic-coated aluminium, which serve as reflectors of radar energy. They may be designed for different frequencies.
  • Decoys are flying devices that can be controlled midair and can be used as ‘sacrificial lambs’ in order to protect military aircraft. This can be done by deceiving the radar receiver into believing that a decoy is in fact a larger airplane. They can prove very dangerous when capable of releasing chaff or if they possess corner reflectors.
  • Corner reflectors are several-sided devices that can re-radiate radar energy just as chaff. Corner reflectors are especially dangerous when used with decoys.
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Electronic jamming

Electronic jamming refers to techniques involving intentional bursts of false signals towards enemy radar sites in order to saturate them. Electronic jamming can be in the form of spot, sweep, barrage and spoofer jamming.

  • Spot jamming is a phenomenon that happens when a jamming device channels all its power on a particular frequency. This serves to disable the radar operating on that frequency.
  • Sweep jamming involves changes in incident frequencies from the jamming device.
  • Barrage jamming refers to the jamming of several frequencies by the same jamming device.
  • Spoofer jamming refers to the distortion of received radar energy followed by its subsequent retransmission in order to create confusing illusions among enemy radar operators.
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Preventive measures

A number of preventive measures have been developed in order to compete against radar jamming technology. Prominent among them include the use of variable frequency of radar energy that is be sent into the skies. This may serve well in making it difficult for the jamming apparatus to figure out what frequency to use, hence causing it to fail. The use of mobile radar vehicles also causes confusion, especially when the incident signals are deliberately mixed with radio frequency noise up to certain levels. Both radar and radar-jamming technologies are competing against each other in order to become superior and help respective sides gain the upper hand during wartime.

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