REGISTER NOW: Don't Miss Tomorrow's Webinar – GPS Interference: Origins, Effects and Mitigations
January 15, 2015 | 1400-1500 EST (1900-2000 GMT)

GPS has been described as the stealth utility. Diverse elements of our military capability and national infrastructure are critically reliant on precise location and time, usually derived from GPS. Yet, GPS signal reception is potentially vulnerable to interference and spoofing. This webinar provides a high-level perspective on the effects of jamming and spoofing on GPS receivers and describes some interference mitigation approaches.

After a quick review of GPS signals and how receivers determine position, the focus is on the effects of select interference types on specific GPS signals, both military and civil. Jamming effectiveness as a function of range is examined and the effect of ground mobile propagation in limiting effective jammer range is described. Military mitigations, such as adaptive arrays and inertial measurement unit (IMU) aiding, are discussed, as well as their limitations. The prospects for integrating rapidly evolving civil "smartphone" approaches into a military context are then explored.

Finally, because GPS is a dual use civil/military system, training military users for operation in a challenged RF environment is highly problematic since actually jamming GPS is often not an option. Discussion will include some approaches to realistically simulate jamming effects under field conditions.

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PRESENTATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 2: 44th Annual Collaborative EW Symposium, March 31-April 3, 2015, Pt. Mugu, CA
As EW warfighting requirements continue to evolve in their complexity and interdependency, it is clear that future EW systems must work collaboratively with other air, ground, surface space and cyberspace systems. The 44th Annual Point Mugu Electronic Warfare Symposium will facilitate the exchange of enabling concepts and provide a venue to disseminate current research in the fields of Collaborative Electronic Warfare. Prominent leaders, contributors and representatives from the United States and Australian military, government, academia, and industry will come together to address current Electronic Warfare gaps and emerging technologies in Collaborative Electronic Warfare required to address these gaps.

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
This call for presentations or demonstrations challenges presenters to explore the way forward in enabling collaborative EW through innovation and invention. Presentations or demonstrations from all United States and Australian Services, DoD, Industry, and Academia are requested that identify technical paths, options and potential opportunities for EW collaboration. Submitted abstracts are specifically requested to address one or more of the symposium sessions: threat trends, collaborative EW science and technology perspectives, cognitive and adaptive EW technologies, coordinated/distributed networked-enabled systems and warfighter perspectives. Amplifying information on these supporting topics and draft agenda are referenced below.

Abstracts for presentations are required in unclassified textual format. Please forward abstracts to Ms. Shelley Frost at frost@crows.org. The deadline is February 2, 2015. We request that abstracts be limited to one page of text or 400 words.

To facilitate the selection processes please ensure your submitted abstract file is labeled with your last name, session number and short title. For example: "Herrera_session1_Welcome and Intro.doc." Symposium presentations may be unclassified or classified; however, abstracts should be unclassified. Notification of acceptance and presentation submission instructions will be by February 6, 2015. Presentations will be required in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 or earlier format. In order to meet required foreign disclosure procedures, final presentations are required to be submitted with appropriate foreign disclosure paperwork by February 23, 2015 to ensure adequate processing. Foreign disclosure processes will be listed on the conference web site www.crows.org when finalized.
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NEW WEBINAR: Fundamental Tradeoffs in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), January 30
January 30, 2015 | 1400-1500 EST (1900-2000 GMT)

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a remote sensing technology capable of providing detailed two- and three-dimensional images of terrain and man-made structures and objects around the clock and under virtually all weather conditions. SARs are hosted on platforms ranging from small unmanned air vehicles, to commercial and military manned aircraft, to earth orbiting satellites, and have a host of scientific, commercial, and defense applications.

An ideal SAR would provide fine resolution, high sensitivity imagery of large areas in a short time. In practice, the achievable resolution, sensitivity, and area rates are determined by basic system parameters such as power, bandwidth, standoff range, antenna design, processing capability, and more. In this webinar, Dr. Mark Richards summarizes representative performance goals for a few broad classes of SAR applications and how they depend on basic radar parameters. In this context, he then shows how these goals sometimes interact and conflict, requiring the SAR engineer to tradeoff key system characteristics such as antenna size and PRF, or resolution and area coverage. Because data processing, requirements can also become a critical bottleneck, the increasingly important issue of onboard processing power efficiency vs. data link capabilities, especially in small platforms such as UAVs, will be described.

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AOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Nominate a Colleague for the 2015 Elections 

Nominations for the 2015 AOC Board of Directors election are now being accepted.

The election will begin on July 1, 2015 and will end on July 31, 2015.

The 2015 election slate will include the annually elected position of President-Elect, which as defined in the Bylaws, will result in that successful person serving consecutive terms beginning at Convention in 2015 – first as Vice President, followed by the Presidential term a year later beginning in 2016. The AOC President appoints the association’s Secretary and Treasurer, presides over the Board of Directors and Executive Committee and appoints committee chairs. The President is also the AOC’s primary spokesperson, visiting AOC chapters around the world and meeting with leaders in the Electronic Warfare, Cyber, Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) and Information Operations (IO) communities. This is a significant but rewarding commitment.

The 2015 election slate also will include two (2) At Large Director positions. At Large Directors serve a three (3)-year term.  In addition, three (3) Regional Directors will be elected for three (3)-year terms from the Mid-Atlantic, Central and Pacific Regions.

A 2015 AOC Nomination Form is attached. Nomination packets must be received at AOC headquarters by close-of-business on Monday, March 2, 2015. If you wish to nominate more than one person, please duplicate the form. Nomination forms are also available on the AOC website at www.crows.org or by contacting the AOC’s Director of Membership, Ms. Glorianne O’Neilin, at oneilin@crows.org.

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CALL FOR PAPERS: 15th Annual AOC Electronic Warfare Europe, "Future EW – Innovation, Information & Interoperability"
May 26-28, 2015 | Stockholm, Sweden
As nations re-focus on contingency operations after over a decade of counter-insurgency, there are many challenges and opportunities for governments, the military, academia, science and technology, and industry. Events in 2014 have reminded us of the deadly nature of RF-guided weaponry and that the counter-insurgency threat has not gone away, but intensified. Air attacks on IS terrorists in Syria and Iraq are inevitably enabled by the usual panoply of Electromagnetic (EM) operations: SIGINT, C4ISR, precise navigation and timing, targeting, communications, spectrum management and the whole gamut of EW. EM-enabled cyber operations are part of defeating terrorists, as well as state actors across the spectrum of warfare, starting with influence and counter-propaganda and most likely going much further.

National forces are being re-shaped and re-equipped to face the future, which will be contested, congested, complex, connected, constrained and potentially chaotic unless the right informed choices are made now. AOC EW Stockholm 2015 will look at future EW from three connected perspectives – innovation by industry, government agencies and academia, the importance of information (including cyber) and interoperability both of capabilities like EW, SIGINT and ISR and between services and partners in joint, combined and coalition operations.

Mark your calendars now for this premier AOC Global event!
Conference Details

CALL FOR PAPERS
The AOC is soliciting original unclassified English language papers for the Stockholm conference from international leaders, military personnel, subject matter experts and leading thinkers from the military, academia and industry. Please contact the conference director, John Clifford (clifford@crows.org) if you are interested in speaking or want more information and provide the title of the proposed paper, a brief synopsis and information on the speaker. Company or product briefs will not be accepted.  The deadline for submitting is close of business Friday, February 27, 2015 but earlier is better.
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SAVE THE DATE: 6th Annual Electronic Warfare/Cyber Convergence Conference
June 2-4, 2015 | SPAWAR, Charleston, SC

Plan now to attend this annual event. More details to follow in  the new year.

Conference Page

Also, Save the Date for the 7th Annual EW Capability Gaps and Enabling Technologies Operational & Technical Information Exchange, August 11-13 in Crane, IN. Look for updates in the coming months on the Conference Page.

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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: 40th Annual Dixie Crow Symposium, March 22-26
The Dixie Crow Chapter of the Association of Old Crows is proud to announce their 40th Annual Dixie Crow EW/IO Symposium to be held in Warner Robins at the Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Georgia. Our theme, "The Power of EW & ISR for Sustained Air Supremacy;" emphasizes the important work carried out by the men and women on Robins AFB; military and civilian along with our local contractors. The defense complex supports worldwide those that develop and maintain Electronic Warfare (EW) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems deployed by our Warfighters on a daily basis to defend our freedom and preserve liberty around the world.

Event Registration: Dixiecrow2015.infinity-international.com

We are happy to have the following committed speakers to date:
Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.) – Banquet Speaker
Maj. Gen. Ken Israel, USAF (Ret.), AOC President – Guest Speaker
Maj. Gen. Bob "Cowboy" Dulaney, USAF (Ret.) – F-35 Community Relations, LM
Col. John "Hap" Arnold, USAF (Ret.) – DARPA    
Lt. Col. Chad "Cheat" Fager, Deputy Commander, 53rd EWG
Lt. Col. Gene "Joker" McFalls, 53rd EWG/F-35 – Banquet Emcee

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FREE INFORMATION OPERATIONS CLASSES: Only a Few Seats Remain Capitol Club's Free IO Briefings, January 20
You are invited to a day of IO briefings sponsored by the AOC Capitol Club. The briefings are free, but space is limited. If you ever wanted to learn or update your knowledge of IO this is the class for you. The briefings are conducted by experts in the IO field. Here are the details:

Who: Persons with an interest in Information Operations, currently no restrictions in attendees.
What: Unclassified IO classes
Where: 3rd Floor Classroom, AOC building, 1000 North Payne St., Alexandria, VA 22314
When: 0800-1700 January 20, 2015
Why: To provide Information Operations education to members of the AOC and the general public.  

Registration: Send an email to joel.k.hard@gmail.com with name, rank (if applicable) and company. There is a strict limit of 25 people, due to space limitation.

Cost: Free.
Lunch will be provided, courtesy Capitol Club, AOC.

Agenda January 20, 2015 IO Classes
0800 – 1000 Dr. Leigh Armistead: Introduction to IO, IO Standards, Overview
1000 – 1200 Dr. J. Michael Waller: How to Fight a War of Information Like a Real War
1300 – 1500 Larisa Breton: Measurement
1500 – 1700 Joel Harding: Russian Information Warfare | Ukraine Information Warfare Initiatives

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting event.

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WINDY CITY CHAPTER Recognizes Contributions of Col. Mocio to Electronic Warfare
Col. Mark Mocio was recently recognized by AOC International for his efforts pertaining to the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) program with regard to the importance that this program plays in the protection of U.S. and U.S. ally troops and aircraft. There is no question that the IRCM systems that have been and will continue to be delivered on the LAIRCM program and integrated onto U.S. and ally platforms save lives every day.

At a recent Joint Program Management Review (JPMR) for the LAIRCM program, the Local AOC Windy City Chapter took the opportunity to present Col. Mocio with a certificate from AOC International that recognized his and his team’s (i.e., LAIRCM Senior Materiel Leadership,  LAIRCM Program Mobility Directorate, and  LAIRCM Integrated Product Team) contributions to Electronic Warfare. The certificate reads as follows: 

For meritorious professional achievement in contributing to the fields of Electronic and Information warfare. Your outstanding accomplishments have merited special recognition and appreciation from the entire membership of the Association of Old Crows. 

In addition to the presentation of the certificate, the Windy City Chapter also took the opportunity to present the Colonel with the AOC coffee table book that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the AOC so that the Colonel could be prepared to answer the inevitable questions from inquiring minds on what exactly the AOC organization does. The book provides a good overview on the history of the AOC and the role that the AOC has provided to the safety of our nation and our allies.  

Pictured above, from left to right, are Col. Mocio, Lisa Fenton – Director of IRCM Fixed Wing, and Joe Duthie – AOC Windy City Chapter President.

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REGISTER NOW: Third National EW Workshop India, February 11-13, 2015 in Bangalore
The AOC India Chapter has announced its third National EW Workshop India (EWWI 2015) next February at the National Science Seminar Complex (NSSC) at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India. EWWI 2015 is the third event in the EWWI series of National-Level Workshops, the only national-level event in India in the field of Electronic Warfare, the niche and crucial part of Modern Warfare. The Workshop is being organized by the organizers of the prestigious EWCI series of International EW Conferences in India, the Association of Old Crows (AOC) India Chapter, Bangalore, India. The three-day workshop is designed to impart in-depth professional knowledge covering highly advanced and emerging topics in the field of EW.
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Bzzt! Marine Corps Jets Are Jamming Islamic State

The EA-6B Prowler – one of the United States’ oldest warplanes – won’t be around in a few years. But until then, the bulbous, twin-engine jet will spend its time scrambling Islamic State’s radios and cell phones. Navy Prowlers attached to the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush first jammed Islamic State last year. But the Navy’s EA-6Bs left the area in November as the Bush returned home. (Medium)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Cyber Marines Get Tactical During Bold Alligator

Developers with the Office of Naval Research are pushing cyber warfare training further than ever by incorporating it into tactical crisis response scenarios, including those at Exercise Bold Alligator 14. During the early-November exercise, ONR outfitted a military operations in urban terrain training facility at Camp Lejeune, NC, with an array of devices that broadcasted a flood of cyber and electronic information. (Marine Corps Times)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Stackley: Rising Costs, Tech-Capable Adversaries, Sequestration Challenge Navy Acquisition

When considering what keeps him awake at night, the Navy’s top acquisition official lists three tough realities. "First, the rising costs of providing for our nation’s defense," said Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, speaking Jan. 7 to an audience at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. "Second, an increasingly technologically capable adversary – potential or otherwise – and, third, the Budget Control Act [BCA of 2011]." (Seapower Magazine)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Kill Old Procurement Laws, Congress!

One of the Pentagon procurement system’s top officials and one of its harshest critics sounded optimistic today that the military can improve how it buys weapons. The key, both said, is for Congress to repeal old laws that now get in the way before it writes anything new – an idea to which the new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Mac Thornberry, might be very receptive. (Breaking Defense)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: India Light Combat Aircraft Flies with New-Generation Electronic Warfare System

A new-gen advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite developed indigenously flew for the first time aboard the light combat aircraft ( LCA) Tejas here. The Tejas-PV1 has been integrated with the new EW suite, a spokesperson from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said, the suite has been developed by Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), a DRDO lab. (The Times of India)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Chinese Aircraft Carrier's Fighters Go Operational?

In this late mid-late 2014 photo, at least four production J-15 "Flying Shark" fighters have landed on the aircraft carrier Liaoning. The J-15 is a navalized version of the Su-27 Flanker heavy fighter; modifications include maneuverability increasing canards, new radars, precision guided munitions and a hardened airframe intended to withstand the environmental stresses of maritime operations. (Popular Science)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: In Future Rotorcraft Acquisition, Services Working to Avoid Mistakes of Past Joint Programs

The history of joint aircraft is littered with failures, and when programs do come to fruition, they oftentimes are marred by schedule delays and cost overruns. Case in point, critics say, is the uber-expensive F-35 joint strike fighter program. Even that hasn’t deterred the U.S. military from trying to develop aircraft that can be used by multiple services. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps are all potential customers of an upcoming acquisition effort called future vertical lift, which aims to develop a family of rotorcraft scheduled to begin fielding in the mid-2030s. (National Defense Magazine)
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