Terminal Learning Objectives

USAFA · Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering · ECE 495 · Fall 2026

Electromagnetic Warfare & Survivability

Four blocks. 41 lessons. One adversary problem: keep the B-21 alive in a contested spectrum.

Start Block 1 → Course schedule Project 1 handout Homework 1
01

Radar Fundamentals

How radar detects, ranges, and tracks — the physics every EW technique must defeat.

Lessons 1–10
 02

RF Electronic Warfare

Jamming, deception, and the electronic-attack/protection duel in the RF band.

Lessons 11–20
 03

IR EW & Signature Management

Infrared threats, missile seekers, countermeasures, and signature reduction.

Lessons 21–30
 04

Survivability & Mission Planning

Integrating LO, EW, and tactics into a survivable mission against a modern IADS.

Lessons 31–41 · Coming soon

Group deliverable

Group Projects

30% of course grade

Projects 1–3, one per block — Project 1 due end of Block 1

Open Project 1 →

Individual deliverable

Final Project

20% of course grade

Block 4 capstone, in lieu of a final exam

Coming with Block 4

Individual deliverable

Homework

20% of course grade

HW1 due end of Block 1

Open Homework 1 →

Individual deliverable

Project Quizzes

20% of course grade

One per block, end of Block

On paper, in class

Individual deliverable

Participation

10% of course grade

Present a pre-flight 2–3 times a semester

Prep every lesson

Terminal Learning Objectives#

By the end of this course you should be able to:

  1. Explain how modern radar and IR sensors detect, track, and engage air targets.

  2. Apply the radar range equation and propagation physics to predict detection range.

  3. Analyze electronic-attack and electronic-protection techniques against the kill chain.

  4. Evaluate aircraft signature-reduction and survivability tradeoffs quantitatively.

  5. Synthesize EW and tactics into a survivable mission plan against an integrated air-defense system.

The operational thread: the B-21 Raider

Every block returns to one question — how does a low-observable bomber survive a modern integrated air-defense system (IADS)? The radar physics in Block 1 is the threat. The EW, signature management, and mission-planning blocks that follow are your toolkit for breaking each link in the adversary’s kill chain.

Rules of engagement

  1. This is an experimental course. Consistent feedback is greatly appreciated!

  2. The site is the long-form reference; the slides are prompts. Use both.

  3. Be Present. Be Prepared — anyone can be called to present the pre-flight, so work it before every lesson.

  4. Deadlines are firm. If something will be late, coordinate with the instructor at least 24 hours ahead — non-coordinated late work earns a zero.

What Each Lesson Contains#

  • Reading. The main text for the lesson — expanded explanations of the slide material, with the equations worked through. Read it alongside the slides.

  • Flashcards. Key terms, equations, and concepts in click-to-reveal cards for quick review.

  • Demo. An interactive in-browser tool for the lesson’s central idea: live sliders, plots, and animations. Each demo has a MATLAB companion script — the same numerics in code — bundled in the course code download for students who want to inspect or modify it.

  • Type-along. A short, hands-on exercise embedded in the reading — you work it in real time (in MATLAB where it applies), then check against the worked solution.

  • Slides. The deck we work through in class, as a PDF you can annotate — linked from each lesson page and bundled in the course download.

  • Pre-flight. Five questions to work before class. Never collected — anyone can be cold-called to present one at the board, and that recitation is the participation grade.

Contents