Crow Ressurection: The Future of Airborne Electronic Attack

This study examines the adequacy of the current United States Department of Defense Airborne Electronic Attack strategy regarding support to future global strike operations. Airborne Electronic Attack AEA is a vital element to successful global air strike operations as evidenced by operations during Vietnam and the Gulf War. Within an environment of fiscal austerity, modern day DOD Electronic Warfare Officers EWOs face significant Airborne Electronic Attack challenges in protecting strike assets by attempting to gain and maintain control of the electromagnetic spectrum. The current DOD AEA strategy must adequately address support to future global strike operations for these missions to remain relevant in future conflict. The threat to strike forces has evolved significantly since the Gulf War, and the DOD must retain the capability to counter adversaries with effective AEA protection. Future global strike operations will require specific AEA mission sets and the DOD force must maintain a credible capacity to deny, degrade, and disrupt future advanced adversary air defenses. This thesis seeks to reveal critical AEA activities, capabilities, and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures TTPs of the past in order to project requirements for the future employment of airborne electronic attack in support of global strike operations.