Introduction to Electronic Defense Systems, Third Edition

The first edition of the classic, Introduction to Electronic Defense Systems, was published in 1991, the second in 2006 and this, the 3rd, in 2018, thus clearly demonstrating the point author Filippo Neri makes about the increasing pace and impressive evolution of such technologies. The 3rd edition continues the pattern established in the earlier editions with the initial chapter providing an expanded overview of electronic defense systems and new concepts, threats and opportunities including cyber and Cyber Electromagnetic Activities. As such these 36 pages provide the context to understand the technological issues in the remaining 7 Chapters. Not unexpectedly, these are sometimes necessarily brief introductions to complex issues. However, besides providing context for what follows, they serve to whet the appetite of the reader and encourage further study. The up-to-date and comprehensive references complement this process well. The chapter running order is Electronic Defense; Sensors; Weapon Systems; Electronic Intercept Systems, Electronic Countermeasure Systems; Electronic Counter-Countermeasure Systems; New Electronic Defense Techniques and Technologies, and Design and Evaluation Criteria. The author notes that formulas and mathematical theory have been reduced to a minimum; that may well have been the intent but the 3rd edition includes 180 illustrations and around 400 equations! The book remains very readable throughout, with excellent diagrams and explanations of everything covered by a true master in the field and a great communicator. As mentioned, the structure of the 3rd edition follows that of the 2nd edition with additional material on new concepts and materials e.g. Artificial Intelligence and Gallium Nitride, to name just two. The 3rd edition is an evolution of the early editions and that makes perfect sense. The new edition is primarily aimed at those who are entering the world of Electronic Systems (Electronic Warfare, Signals Intelligence, CEMA, ISR, Navigation and NAVWAR, etc.) in a technical sense and deserves a place in everyone's personal library and in the industry. Given the accelerating pace of innovation, global threats and opportunities, there is likely to be an increasing audience for this book and others like it, covering warfare in the Electromagnetic manoeuvre warfare space, or EME / EM Domain. As the name implies, the book uses US terminology which diverged from NATO terminology some 25 years ago, but remained broadly comparable. However that changed very significantly in 2007 when the NATO Military Committee signed off a document on the future transformation of NATO Electronic Warfare (MCM-0142 27 Nov 2007); the major thrust of the new policy and concept was to recognise the Electromagnetic Environment (EME) as an operational environment or domain like all the others (Land, Air Maritime, etc) where the full range of manoeuvre activities - offence, defence, shaping, exploitation, management, etc. – take place. Provided the non-US NATO, and potentially other, reader understands this, Introduction to Electronic Defense Systems is an invaluable and outstanding guide and technical handbook. It is an ideal introduction for those who are starting in the field as system designers; to users and potential users, and to all concerned now or in the next decade in the procurement of such systems. These are exactly the target audiences identified in the Author's Preface. The author concludes the Preface with a wish that readers will find the book useful. I have no doubt that readers will in fact find the book invaluable and essential reading to help them for many years in making progress in their chosen careers. -- John Clifford * Wing Commander OBE MBCS CEng CITP RAF (Retd) *