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CALL FOR PAPERS: 16th Annual AOC Electronic Warfare Europe, May 10-12 in Rotterdam
"Transforming EW – Evolving Threats, Concepts and Capabilities"
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. Recent events have reminded everyone of the deadly nature of RF guided weaponry and that the threat from insurgents has not ended, but intensified. The widely reported use of wholesale, sophisticated Russian counter-C3 systems in and around Ukraine in parallel to cyber operations and widespread dis-information/psychological operations has given rise to what leading military and political thinkers refer to as Hybrid Warfare. The question is what does this mean for the future of EW in the free world? Almost all military operations are enabled by wide-ranging electromagnetic (EM) operations, a concept that NATO and others have fully embraced. These include SIGINT; C4ISR; precise navigation and timing; targeting; communications, spectrum management and the whole gamut of EW. But, are there new requirements for EW arising from hybrid warfare? The answer to the question then, is yes, a great deal, with an obvious example being EM-enabled cyber operations.
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 Rotterdam 2016 will consider the future of EW and EM Operations in the changing light of current and emerging threats, including Hybrid Warfare; it will consider the possible responses, how thinking and attitudes must change and examine the new capabilities that will be required across all lines of defence, by all services, in all countries. Part of the event will include twin-tracks focusing respectively on operations, capability and defence lines of development and industry developments and inventiveness. AOC EW Europe 2016 will once again bring together, this time in Rotterdam, perhaps the most happening and connected city in Europe right now, all the communities involved in EW, SIGINT, C4ISR, Cyber EM Activities (CEMA) and more. This is the largest global EW networking, exhibition, seminar and conference, outside of the U.S., and is not to be missed!
CALL FOR PAPERS
The time has now come to submit your paper for the conference at EW Europe 2016. This year’s theme will focus on Transforming EW – Evolving Threats, Concepts and Capabilities, with the thesis of Hybrid Warfare and the Future of EW.
Potential Speakers are invited to note the conference sessions topics and specific areas of interest:
- Keynote addresses.
- Operational focus.
- National perspectives.
- Defensive and offensive capabilities.
- Technological and engineering developments.
- Future warfare – capability, integration and interoperability.
- Critical EM lines of development such as training, test and evaluation, modelling and simulation, concepts, etc.
- EW and EM operations, SIGINT, ISR, spectrum management, and network enabled capability.
- The information domain/environment, information operations, cyber warfare, social media, etc.
- Briefs on major programmes and capability development in the maritime, air/space, and land domains.
- Specific contemporary EW/EM topics like countering UAVs and drones and directed energy & laser developments are sought.
The AOC is soliciting original unclassified English language papers for the Rotterdam conference from international leaders, military personnel, subject matter experts and leading thinkers from the government, 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, 19 February 2016 but earlier is better.
Conference Details
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REGISTER NOW FOR THE NEXT AOC VIRTUAL SERIES WEBINAR: Countermeasures for Modern Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) Radars, February 4
February 4, 2016 | 1400-1500 EST (1900-2000 GMT)
Modern radar systems are employing waveforms and antenna systems that are increasingly difficult to intercept, but what exactly is Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) radar? Why is it important? And how can these systems be detected and attacked? This presentation attempts to answer these question with a focus on real world problems.
LPI radar systems aim to reduce the probability an EW receiver can detect a threat signal in two manners. First, by carefully managing when and where power is transmitted through its radiation and scan patterns. Second, the radar waveform aims to reduce the average power density by using high duty cycles or continuous wave signals with advanced modulation techniques that cover wide bandwidths.
These techniques can drastically reduce or even eliminate the detection range advantage of an EW receiver over a threat radar. As a result, EW detection technology must advance to keep pace with these new threats. Several methods for detecting and analyzing LPI radar signals will be discussed, and how these can be used to generate countermeasures.
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GOLD SPONSOR
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CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS DEADLINE IN TWO WEEKS: 45th Annual Collaborative Electronic Warfare Symposium, April 6-7 at Pt. Mugu
We challenge presenters to explore the way forward in enabling collaborative EW through innovation and invention. Requested are presentations or demonstrations from all United States and Australian services, DoD, industry and academia that identify technical paths, options and potential opportunities for EW collaboration. Submitted abstracts should 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.
Abstracts for presentations must be at the unclassified level and in text format. Please forward abstracts to Ms. Shelley Frost at frost@crows.org by February 5, 2016. Abstracts are 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: "Smith_session1_Welcome_and_Intro.doc." Symposium presentations may be classified or unclassified; however, abstracts must be unclassified. Notification of acceptance and presentation submission instructions will be sent out by February 12, 2016. Presentations will be required to be completed in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 or earlier format.
In order to meet required foreign disclosure procedures, final presentations must be submitted with appropriate foreign disclosure paperwork by February 19, 2016. Foreign disclosure processes will be available at www.crows.org when finalized.
IMPORTANT DATES 2016:
(Note: Dates are proposed for planning purposes only and subject to change. Actual dates are expected to fall within 7-10 days of listed dates.)
Abstracts Due: February 5
Notification of Acceptance: February 12
Final Presentations with Foreign Disclosure paperwork: February 19
Security Clearance: March 8
Conference Details
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2016 AOC International Elections
Each year the AOC's membership determines the future of the Association by electing representatives to its Board of Directors. Nominations for the 2016 election are being accepted now through March 1.
The election will begin on July 1, 2016 and will end on July 31, 2016.
The 2016 election slate will include two (2) At Large Director positions, who will serve a three (3)-year term. In addition, the two International Regional Directors will be elected for three (3)-year terms from International 1 and International 2 regions. These new Directors will be installed at the Annual 2016 Convention/Symposium and the Board meeting venues scheduled for that first week of December 2016.
The 2016 AOC Nomination Form is available. Nomination packets must be received at AOC headquarters by close-of-business on Monday, March 1, 2016. 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.
When completed, the forms should be returned to the N&E Committee at: Association of Old Crows, 1000 North Payne St., Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314 or by fax to (703) 549-2589. Completed forms may also be returned by email to oneilin@crows.org.
The N&E Committee will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You may contact me at amorosonino@aol.com or you may contact Glorianne at AOC Headquarters, as above or at (703) 549-1600, and she will insure your inquiry gets to the Committee.
Nino Amorso
Chair, Nominations & Election Committee
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WE NEED YOU: Calling All EW Rockstars!
Are you dreaming of headlining one of the most epic shows in the EW community? Then the AOC Virtual Series is your Madison Square Garden. The AOC Virtual Series webinars are the premier stage to share achievements, insights, expertise, breakthroughs and experiences that rock the EW world. The Association of Old Crows is currently seeking presenters and topics for the 2016 Virtual Series World Tour.
Virtual Series Greatest Hits:
- DRFM for Dummies
- Understanding Phased Arrays: From AESA to PESA to MIMO & ULSA
- Unlocking the Mysteries of Radar
- The 3 Pillars of EW
- GPS Interference: Origins, Effects and Mitigations
- Demystifying Monopulse Radars
- Evolving to the Next Generation of Multifunctional Electronic Warfare
- Fundamental Tradeoffs in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
- ...and many more!
This Year's Potential Tracks:
- Anechoic Chambers 101: Setup for Near Field vs. Far Field
- Radar Fundamentals II - Pulse Doppler Radar
- Active vs. Passive Antennas
- LPI Radars
- Conformal Arrays & Meta Materials
- Latest EW Developments and Goals in the Helicopter World
- Networks in the Tactical Environment
- GaN & its Role in Reduced SWaP
- ...and many more
None of these topics striking a chord? No problem! If you have a topic that fits your expertise and want to share it, then submit any and all ideas & abstracts. We want to hear them!
Abstracts for presentations are requested in unclassified textual format and may be received within the body of an email or as an email attachment. We request that abstracts be limited to one page of text. Final presentations will be unclassified in Microsoft PowerPoint format, and typically last about 30 minutes. Abstract approval will be provided by the AOC, and we will be in contact with further steps in scheduling the webinar. Please forward abstracts to our Virtual Series coordinator, Tim Hutchison, or simply reply to this email.
Take the stage and rock the EW world with the AOC Virtual Series. But please, leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals!
Contact Tim Hutchison at hutchison@crows.org.
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 AOC MOVIE REVIEW: "Blackhat" Blackhat (2015) - Blackhat is an action thriller mystery film by Michael Mann that stars Chris Hemsworth (also known as Thor). According to Wikipedia, "Blackhat was a box office bomb, earning only $19.6 million at the box office against a budget of $70 million," which makes sense when you look at its ratings (as of January 17, 2016): 5.4/10 - IMDb 34% - Rotten Tomatoes 51% - Metacritic As it turns out, hackers think it is the greatest hacking movie of all time (http://www.wired.com/2015/01/blackhat-the-best-cyber-movie). There is social engineering, removable media issues, targeted phishing and the list goes on. The technical accuracy goes far beyond the 1996 movie Hackers, where typing "Cookie" does not really stop viruses. So where do electronic warfare concepts come in?
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The Fourth EW International Conference India (EWCI 2016) is the latest event in the benchmark of EWCI Conference Series in the advanced field of EW. The conference is being organised by the award-winning India Chapter of Association of Old Crows (AOC), Bangalore. The conference is supported by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bangalore is the patronising sponsor of the event. The conference addresses the technical and commercial needs of operational users, planners, developers, procurers, testers and trainers of the latest EW technologies and systems.
A large scale indoor exhibition will accompany the conference, displaying the latest EW products from international EW organisations. There will be an intense one-day pre-conference tutorials preceding the conference. The conference is envisaged as the important platform for EW professionals who would share the research and development output in the field of EW at the global level. Also keeping in view of the government of India's "Make in India" policy, the participants of the conference will be exposed to the state-of-the-art developments in self reliance in the field of EW in India and, hence, the theme of the conference is chosen as "EW: Partner for Self-Reliance."
Register Now
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 CALL FOR PAPERS DEADLINE, FEBRUARY 15: Dixie Crow Symposium 41 EW/ISR: Today's Innovations Countering Tomorrow's Threats, March 20-24
The EW/Avionics Division, AFLCMC/WNY, and the Dixie Crow Chapter of the Association of Old Crows (AOC) will co-sponsor the AF Technical Program, 2016 Dixie Crow Symposium 41, on 22-24 March 2016. The program will be at the Scott Theater (Building 1500), Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, GA. An AF conference approval request has been submitted by the EW/Avionics Division.
This year's theme, shown above, illustrates collaboration within the Information Operations (IO) environment and integration within the operations environment for both new and legacy systems.
Papers to support this theme should include issues relating to Electronic Warfare (EW), Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) and collaboration within the existing and future IO environment. Efficient utilization, understanding and control of the Electromagnetic Spectrum are necessary for defense of our forces and our homeland. Collaborative improvement is necessary to assure our tactics and products are affordable and successfully protect the warfighters. Maximization of modern and legacy systems demands "unique" approaches.
Papers may be unclassified or classified. Briefing sessions will be separated as follows: 1) Unclassified with no restrictions; 2) Unclassified US ONLY, EXPORT CONTROLLED; 3) Classified Confidential or Secret, US ONLY.
A Releasibility Certification (form included with full Call for Papers) is required before presentation can take place.
Please be aware the Dixie Crow Technical Committee does not release any bio, abstract or briefing information. Any attendee wishing a copy of the briefing must contact the briefer directly.
Presentations will be targeted for 20 minutes (including questions and answers).
Please let us know if you are interested in presenting a paper. Abstracts (less than 200 words) must be UNCLASSIFIED and may be submitted electronically any time before February 15, 2016.
Full Call for Papers
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 TAKE THE 2016 MITRE CHALLENGE: White Papers Due Feb. 7 - Countering Unauthorized Unmanned Aircraft Systems The use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), known also as drones, within the United States is growing quickly as costs drop and interest rises. Government, industry, and hobbyists are finding many ways to use these small aircraft. However, we’re also seeing unauthorized uses – resulting in drones that potentially threaten the safety of aircraft in the national airspace and create security concerns by operating near sensitive locations. The potential for nefarious use of this technology is unsettling and has become a major safety and security concern for multiple Federal agencies. While counter-UAS technologies exist today, they are predominantly focused on large UAS and military scenarios. MITRE is working with multiple Federal agencies to help them understand the safety and security issues presented by small UAS and potential mitigations. One way to solicit solutions from a wide range of innovators from industry, academia and other organizations is through a "challenge." MITRE believes, as does the Federal Government, that challenges and prize competitions are a creative approach to identifying and nurturing diverse potential solutions to a critical national problem. The MITRE Challenge is looking for solutions to detect and safely interdict small UAS (weighing less than 5 lbs.) that pose a potential safety or security threat in urban areas.
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: This is the Most Important Technology on the F-35 The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the most expensive weapons program ever, won't justify its price tag by outmaneuvering other jets (it can't), flying particularly fast or even by carrying munitions in a stealthy bomb bay. Instead, the U.S. military is banking on an emerging technology called cognitive electronic warfare to give the jet an almost-living ability to sniff out new hard-to-detect air defenses and invent ways to foil them on the fly. (Defense One)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: Service Leaders Call for More Focus on Electronic Warfare Training It has been a long time since the United States fell behind in any kind of arms race, but military officials warn that other nations could be pulling ahead in the tools of electronic warfare – and in the training involved in using those tools. One example of this is Russia's proficient use of EW in Ukraine and Syria, according to electronic warfare division chiefs from each of the military services, who briefed a congressional panel on the issue this week. (Defense Systems)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: Chief of Naval Research Helps Steer New Tech for the Fleet On Jan. 13, Winter gave the keynote address at the Surface Navy Association's 28th Annual Symposium, held in Crystal City, Virginia. The symposium featured defense companies, suppliers and military commands exhibiting surface warfare technology and future research and development initiatives. (Armed With Science)
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By the end of 2015 Iraq declared Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province (which is most of western Iraq), back under government control. Reporters speaking to Iraqi commanders found two types of American support praised as critical for making the operation a success and keeping Iraqi casualties down. Reporters were not surprised to hear that Iraqi officers were glad to see the return of American air support, and in a big way. Many of these battalion and brigade commanders had started their careers after 2003 when American air support was common and greatly missed it after Iraqi politicians refused to let the American continue providing it after 2011. (Strategy Page)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: U.S. SOCOM Officials Lay Out Technology Challenges U.S. commandos are looking for new high technology to help them stay ahead of emerging threats, officials from U.S. Special Operations Command said Jan. 20. "Our people must be enabled with key capabilities to help us maintain an edge over our potential adversaries in some of the most challenging environmental conditions," Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of SOCOM, said at a National Defense Industrial Association special operations conference in Washington, D.C. "Currently we see a few gaps." (National Defense)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: Looking Back at Desert Storm Saddam Hussein called it "the mother of all battles," and indeed, as hundreds of missiles and warplanes swarmed over around the birthplace of Abraham, there was something almost biblical that transcended the spectacle of prime-time pyrotechnics and space-age war machines. It manifested itself in dry throats and mute stares as the first wave of exultation crested and broke after Iraqi SCUD missiles began falling on Israel and the realization grew that the megalomaniac Iraqi leader may have to be dug out of the rubble around him, perhaps at the cost of a large number of lives. (U.S. News & World Report)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: Gulf War 25th Anniversary Special: the SEAD Missions Flown by USMC F/A-18 Hornets to Protect Strike Packages Over Iraq The first large deployment of the U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets took place in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, when they flew many of their sorties in SEAD role. During Operation Desert Storm, the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) missions were performed by USAF, U.S. Navy and USMC aircraft. However, those flown by Naval Aviators and by Marine Corps pilots were not the same as the Air Force's Wild Weasels. In fact, as told by Marine Corps Maj. Steve Pomeroy of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 333 to Steve Davies for his book US Multi-Role Fighter Jets, USAF's aircraft "went out to hunt SAMs (Surface to Air Missiles). It didn't matter if they were accompanying a strike or they were preparing for one to come later. They considered a mission successful when they removed the radar." (The Aviationist)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: RAAF Heads to Nevada for Red Flag The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed 14 aircraft and approximately 410 personnel to Exercise Red Flag 16-1 in the US. Held at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada from January 19 until February 13, Exercise Red Flag 16-1 will involve 6 F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Amberley, 6 F/A-18 A/B Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Tindal, a single AP-3C Orion from RAAF Base Edinburgh and an E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C from RAAF Base Williamtown. It will also include a contingent of Air Battle Management element from No. 41 Wing, conducting surveillance and battlespace management of coalition forces inside the exercise area. (Australian Defence Magazine)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: China Centralizes Its Space, Cyber, Information Forces On December 31, China's Central Military Commission (CMC) announced its most recent and substantial military reform yet. The change, which created a separate Army leadership organ, a Rocket Force and a "Strategic Support Force," amounts to the culmination of a year of monumental change for China's national security infrastructure. In many ways the move came as no surprise to long-time China watchers and analysts. PLA scholars have been calling for a separate Army leadership organization for years. (The Diplomat)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: Russia's East Siberia District Receives New Electronic Warfare Systems Russian troops in the Eastern Military District (EMD) have received over 10 cutting-edge electronic warfare systems, EMD spokesman Col. Alexander Gordeev said Tuesday. Dubbed the SPR-2 "Rtut-B," the frequency jamming system is designed to protect troops and equipment; it can cover staging areas as well as individual fixed and moving objects. (Sputnik News)
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 INDUSTRY NEWS: Finmeccanica Unit Claims Counter-Drone Breakthrough One of today's toughest defense problems is drones, but not what the Air Force likes to call Remotely Piloted Aircraft that carry missiles and bombs. The bigger threat – one that worries law enforcement and the Secret Service as much as the Pentagon – are drones like the hundreds of thousands Santa brought to kids of all ages last month. Say a DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter Drone with 2.7K HD Video Camera, selling on Amazon these days for around $500. (Breaking Defense)
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