{"id":25797,"date":"2020-12-10T22:41:01","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T22:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2020\/12\/10\/electromagnetic-spectrum-superiority-at-risk-for-dod-watchdog-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:21:46","slug":"electromagnetic-spectrum-superiority-at-risk-for-dod-watchdog-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/electronic-warfare\/2020\/12\/10\/electromagnetic-spectrum-superiority-at-risk-for-dod-watchdog-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Electromagnetic spectrum superiority at risk for DoD, watchdog says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Department of Defense is in danger of failing to meet its goals to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum battle space due to poor oversight and lack of leaders assigned to implement its recently updated strategy, the government\u2019s watchdog asserts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without some changes, the Pentagon\u2019s ability to ensure superiority in the electromagnetic spectrum and fend off adversaries\u2019 capabilities could fall short, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office concluded in a new report<\/a>, required by lawmakers as part of last year\u2019s defense policy bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EMS has gained significantly more attention and focus in recent years. Sophisticated adversaries have deemed it a critical reliance for U.S. forces and have sought high-tech methods to deny it, meaning they try to jam or spoof communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top nation states, including China and Russia, have demonstrated significant prowess within the electromagnetic spectrum, rivaling the DoD in some respects, while U.S. forces divested much of their related systems and expertise following the conclusion of the Cold War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pentagon issued a much-anticipated strategy in October<\/a> for ensuring superiority within the spectrum that consolidates and supersedes multiple previous strategies. However, GAO raised questions regarding the report\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[T]he department risks not achieving the new strategy\u2019s goals because it has not taken key actions \u2014 such as identifying processes and procedures to integrate EMS operations (EMSO) across the department, reforming governance structures and clearly assigning leadership for strategy implementation,\u201d it said. \u201cAlso, it has not developed oversight processes, such as an implementation plan, that would help ensure accountability and implementation of the 2020 strategy goals. Doing so would help position the department to achieve its EMSO goals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department is still working on an implementation plan, which officials say should be finalized around March 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department have five teams working on five goals detailed in the strategy, drawing on expertise around the agency to identify tasks to complete, said Brig. Gen. Darrin Leleux, deputy director of the EMSO cross-functional team, in a November webcast with C4SIRNET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to connect different activities that are going on around the department,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the big values that is in this effort is identifying gaps, as well as connecting the capabilities that are activities that are happening around the department that can contribute to EMS superiority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GAO issued five recommendations for the agency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n