PLATFORM VULNERABILITY (PV)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Interpret PV outputs to assess vulnerability of various emitters. Identify limitations and assumptions. Interpret an example output of the PV program. PV provides estimates of the vulnerability of the various emitters on a platform to a specified ESM system under varying environmental conditions. ESM estimate is expressed as the maximum intercept range for each emitter. Intercept ranges for surface-to-air, air-to-air, and air-to-surface can be calculated.

Table 7-2.-Example Output of ESM Range Tables

The EMCON planner can use PV to assess the relative vulnerability of the various emitters on a platform versus their value in surveillance or communication. The object is to minimize the platforms vulnerability to counterdetection.

The restrictions as well as the principles taken for granted in listing the PV program areas follows:

. Make sure the environment selected from the refractivity data set is indicative of the location and time of interest. PV is range- and time-independent.

. The maximum intercept range output is limited to 1000 km (541 nmi). The atmosphere is usually not horizontally homogeneous over these great distances.

. PV doesnt account for absorption of EM energy, In general, the absorption of EM energy by things such as oxygen, water vapor, fog, rain, or snow adds little to the propagation loss. Refraction is considered the main factor in transmission.

. PV is valid for frequencies between 100 MHz and 20 GHz.

. Sea-reflected interference is also considered only if the receiver or emitter is below 100 m.

. The effects of a surface-based duct are considered to dominate any contributions from the evaporation duct.

. PV assumes the emitters are radiating at peak power.

. The probability of detection associated with the output ranges depends upon the probability of detection associated with the receiver sensitivities.

. If you are attempting to verify ESM intercept ranges achieved by your own receiver, remember that PV outputs maximum intercept range. If a platforms emitters arent turned on at that range, there will be nothing to intercept.

PV computes the maximum ESMR of an emitter. ESMR is computed only if the emitters frequency falls within one of the frequency bands of the receiver. Table 7-3 shows an example output of the PV program. The bar graph shows the maximum range that

Table 7-3.-Example Output of the PV Program

the specified receiver can detect these emitters under the environmental conditions specified.

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