The Silent Weapon

I watched an amazing movie from 1998 last night.  Saving Private Ryan was an action-packed World War 2 thriller with lots of blood and gore caused by gunfire, grenades, mortars, bombs, and countless other kinetic weapons.  Many other excellent World War 2 movies, Dunkirk for example, also show a myriad of kinetic weapons and kinetic […]

I watched an amazing movie from 1998 last night.  Saving Private Ryan was an action-packed World War 2 thriller with lots of blood and gore caused by gunfire, grenades, mortars, bombs, and countless other kinetic weapons.  Many other excellent World War 2 movies, Dunkirk for example, also show a myriad of kinetic weapons and kinetic kills with all the associated blood and guts.  During that War however, there was another form of warfare happening which does not lend itself to good memorable scenes in movies.  Unlike kinetic warfare, electronic warfare is any action that uses the EM spectrum for military purposes, either to protect one’s own spectrum ( Electronic Protection ), or to exploit the adversary’s spectrum ( Electronic Attack. )   Said another way, Electronic Attack involves exploiting the airwaves, and finding ways to electronically interfere with enemies ability to communicate with people or weapons on the battlefield. Electronic Protection involves making sure that the adversary does not have the ability to exploit the airwaves, and electronically interfere with your ability to communicate with people or weapons on the battlefield.  Electronic Warfare happens behind the scenes, and is often silent.

Electronic Warfare may result in less direct bloodshed, but it is a very powerful way of fighting that can ultimately indirectly support decisive kinetic warfare.  As technology has progressed since World War 2, and as battlefield tactics have changed over time too, Electronic Warfare has become, and will continue to become an even more effective and important force multiplier.  And, Hollywood has noticed.  Many more modern movies that depict more current wars now focus on the technology that supports the firepower. Having said that, Hollywood still recognizes the importance of good old-fashioned blood and gore, so they have not abandoned those scenes altogether.

Since Electronic Protection and Electronic Attack are becoming more important, you may want to consider taking the upcoming ATI course on this subject.  You can learn more about this course, and register to attend at

Electronic Protection and Electronic Attack – ATI Courses

And, as always, you can learn about the full set of courses offered by ATI at www.aticourses.com