Electronic Support Measurement

Electronic support measures (ESM) comprise the division of electronic warfare involving
actions taken to intercept, locate, record and analyse radiated electromagnetic energy for the
purpose of gaining tactical advantage. An important advantage of ESM when used as a sensor
is that they are completely passive. They also provide the potential for detecting enemy
radars at much greater ranges than the detection ranges of these radars. Signals of ESM
interest are usually radar systems. However, they can also include communications, guidance
or navigational emissions in the radio-frequency spectrum, as well as laser emissions and
infrared radiation in the electrooptics field.

Electronic intelligence information is required for both short- and medium-term planning and
also for immediate tactical use in support of offensive and defensive EW operations. ESM are
primarily used to support activities such as:

1. Threat warning – the short-term or tactical activity of ESM concerned with detecting
transmissions that pose a physical threat. A typical example is the use of radar
warning receivers (RWR) to provide an indication of impending attack by fighter or
surface-to-air missiles.
2. Target acquisition – the presence of radar systems can indicate the existence of a
target, or can assist in the identification of a radar-defended target. An example of this
is a maritime patrol aircraft detecting and classifying surface ships by ESM.
3. Homing – an attack radar homing passively onto land or naval base radar-defended
targets.