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| Iraq |
| The Electronic Bubble |
| 2006-04-25 |
| April 25, 2006: For the last three years, troops in Iraq have been using the Warlock electronic jammer to prevent the enemy from setting off IEDs. The Warlock has gone through many revisions, to add more frequencies and better software. Rolling along in a convoy, with one or more Warlocks broadcasting, the troops had an electronic "bubble" that made them safe from an IED they had not spotted. Several times, the vehicles have had an IED go off behind them, the result of the IED detonation crew continuing to send the signal, believing that there might be something wrong with their equipment. In those cases, the patrol often turned around and went looking for the enemy team. In addition to Warlock, several of the U.S. Air Force and Navy electronic warfare aircraft were able to perform the same function as the Warlock, but over a wider area. This was often used when American troops were in action against the enemy, shutting down IED detonation over the entire combat area, as U.S. troops moved around seeking out and fighting the enemy. One problem with the jamming was that it killed cell phone operation, as well as use of many other remote electronic devices Iraqi civilians in the area might be trying to use. The Iraqis complain to each other, but asking the U.S. troops to shut it off would be futile, so they don't. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #10 Signal,if picked up by Warlock or other system, plus accompanying delayed IED detonation... should be sufficient justification. Warlock doesn't detect. It jams. So do EW aircraft. Detection's kind of hard to do when the EM spectrum you're trying to scan is being jammed. Turning off cell service is not a bad idea. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2006-04-25 19:06 |
| #9 One problem with turning the cell phones off is that these are used by friendly locals to call in tips to the coalition forces. Lots of thos goes on. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2006-04-25 17:20 |
| #8 Excellent idea Anguper. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-25 16:44 |
| #7 Whenever there's shooting (or even a patrol) in an area of Iraq, the whole cellular system should be switched off. Peaceful areas will have continuous cell service, terrorist areas don't. What's not to like about this? |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2006-04-25 16:41 |
| #6 Several times, the vehicles have had an IED go off behind them, Signal,if picked up by Warlock or other system, plus accompanying delayed IED detonation... should be sufficient justification. These things are "command detonated." After a few hammering counter-strikes.... the indiginous population will have long since E&E'd from any potential IED ambush site. It's all about ROE and I don't buy the current ROE. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-25 15:04 |
| #5 we've missed an opportunity to send tons 155mm HE or MK-82's raining down on the fuc*ing signals. Aren't they often triggered by cell phones or other potentially innocent devices? Probably not a good idea to blow up every remote garage door user in the neighborhood. |
| Posted by: Snearong Whereth2872 2006-04-25 12:32 |
| #4 I believe you would also need to know the frequency and the code being sent. Can't just fire a missle every time a cell phone sends a message. |
| Posted by: DoDo 2006-04-25 12:32 |
| #3 ...and the downside is? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-25 12:09 |
| #2 .....we've missed an opportunity to send tons 155mm HE or MK-82's raining down on the fuc*ing signals. A cheerful idea! However, to locate a signal you need at least two separate directional fixes and often a little time. Most likely, the signal here is only on for a short time. In addition, I suspect in most cases the trigger man is quite nearby so he can observe the action and push the button at the proper time. This means you are calling down arty strikes on a neighborhood or near your own (moving) position. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-04-25 12:08 |
| #1 For the last three years, .....we've missed an opportunity to send tons 155mm HE or MK-82's raining down on the fuc*ing signals. In those cases, the patrol often turned around and went looking for the enemy team. A needless expenditure of valuable infantry. What a pisser. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-25 10:19 |