Electronics

Electronics refers to the physics, engineering, technology, and applications that are related to the emission, flow, and control of electrons in vacuums and matter. This differs from classical electrical engineering in that it uses active devices to control electron flow through amplification and rectification as opposed to passive effects such as resistance, capacitance, and inductance. Military electronics include aircraft electronics, radars, communications, designators, infantry electronics, special operations electronics, and countermeasure electronics.

Some examples of aircraft electronics are the AN/ALQ-144 Infrared Jammer, Sniper Pods, and SINCGARS. The AN/ALQ-144 IR jammer is a countermeasure system that provides protection from infrared missiles over a wide environmental range. It is primarily used in helicopters. A Sniper Pod is a Lockheed Martin product that provides jet aircraft with positive target identification, autonomous tracking, GPS coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended ranges. The SINCGARS (Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System) is a communications solution that provides the military with high-quality, durable, and reliable combat net radio.

Military radars are detection systems that use radio waves to determine the range, angle, or velocity of objects. They are key in tracking both friendly and enemy craft. Some radars used by the armed forces include the AN/SPQ-9B Radar (sea), the AN/MPQ-53 (land), and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), a system of radars used to monitor terrestrial and space weather data for operational forces around the world. In addition to the SINCGARS and DMSP, the military has a number of sophisticated communications systems such as the GPS IIF and III Satellites, the Wideband Global Satcom System, and PRC-117 communications system.

In terms of infantry electronics, the military infantry uses target locators and designations such as the Mark VII Laser Target Locator and the AN/PED-1 Lightweight Target Designator Rangefinder. The Target Designator Rangefinder is also used by Special Operations, though special forces use additional electronics such as the PEQ-1-SOFLAM, which provides them with the ability to locate and designate key targets for destruction with laser-guided ordnance.

Countermeasure electronics are generally used to deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems such as infrared or lasers. The most common military electronic countermeasure system is the AN/ALQ-144, which provides helicopters with protection from infrared-tracking missiles. These can operate independently or in conjunction with a missile warning system and flares. Each of these electronic systems has a critical purpose in military applications, particularly in the ever-changing conditions of modern warfare.