Speakers
Lecture: ‘The Story of Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Operations in delivering Air Capability’
Defence and security operations across history have been associated with the physical domains of Land, Sea and Air. Space has become the most recent, and highly-publicised, addition to this. Operational success in these domains is increasingly dependent on the quality of information available to participants in operations. The electro-magnetic spectrum (EMS) is the main medium by which such information is collected and disseminated. The invention of radios in the late 19th century was followed by widespread adoption for communication. Within 50 years, the use of radar to detect vehicles and control weapons had made a significant impact on the success or failure of military operations. In more recent times, infra-red and laser systems have become key elements in a range of defence and security applications.
Consequently, the EMS has become a domain in which participants in operations must maintain their own ability to use it, while - on occasions - denying or controlling their opponents use of it. There are many ways in which participants can conduct EMS Operations (EMSO), which are often grouped into 3 broad areas: Electronic Surveillance, Electronic Defence and Electronic Attack, collectively known as Electromagnetic Warfare (EW). The development of the equipment involved in these activities over the period 1900 to the present day provides insights into the innovations made to support past air operations and indicates some of the issues facing the development of air capability for the future.
The lecture will tell the story of EMSO and EW through:
Former Strategy Director of Leonardo Electronics. Currently Visiting Professor of EW Systems at Cranfield University and the Defence Academy of the UK. Serving as President of the UK Chapter of the AOC (Association for Professionals.)
Steve attended St. John's College, Cambridge University, to study Engineering and then Computer Science. He was sponsored by the GEC Marconi group, where his early career was focused on computer simulations of various types of military electronic systems. This was followed by 20 years of leading teams, including those conducting trials of new Electronic Warfare equipment on platforms such as Tornado, Harrier & Typhoon. After this, he spent 10 years as EW Technology Director in BAE Systems and EW Capability Director for Selex. For the final 10 years of his career - when no longer able to do any real engineering - he was Strategy Director for Selex and then Leonardo Electronics where his product portfolio included all forms of electronic equipment, including UAV, across all domains and all forms of EMSO. Steve was appointed Visiting Professor of EW Systems at Cranfield University and the Defence Academy of the UK in 2011. He was inducted into the AOC's EW Technology Hall of Fame in 2014 and is currently serving as the President of the UK Chapter of the AOC. He is especially proud of receiving the Silver Specialist Award from the RAeS in 2016 for his contribution to aircraft and aircrew survivability.