Tactical Communications Technical Glossary Part II

5. Military Tactical Security & Electronic Warfare Technical Terms

Encryption

Definition: The process of encoding information so only authorized parties with the correct cryptographic key can access it, protecting data confidentiality and integrity.

Application: Essential for all classified military communications to prevent adversary interception and exploitation.

End-to-End Encryption

Definition: Data encryption that protects information from the original sender to the final receiver, with no intermediate nodes able to decrypt the content.

Application: Prevents eavesdropping at relay points, gateways, and network infrastructure.

AES-256

Definition: Advanced Encryption Standard with 256-bit key length – the global standard symmetric encryption algorithm approved for TOP SECRET classified information.

Application: Used in all modern tactical radios and military communication systems for data protection.

Key Management

Definition: The policies, procedures, and systems for generating, distributing, storing, rotating, and revoking cryptographic keys throughout their lifecycle.

Application: Essential for maintaining encryption security; compromised keys can expose all protected communications.

COMSEC – Communications Security

Definition: Measures and controls taken to deny unauthorized access to telecommunications and ensure authenticity of communications.

Application: Protects military communication systems from interception, exploitation, and compromise.

TRANSEC – Transmission Security

Definition: Measures protecting transmissions from interception, jamming, and traffic analysis, including techniques like frequency hopping and spread spectrum.

Application: Complements encryption by protecting the transmission itself, not just the content.

INFOSEC – Information Security

Definition: Protection of information systems against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

Application: Protects the computing and networking components of C4I systems from cyber threats.

EW – Electronic Warfare

Definition: Military action involving the use of electromagnetic energy to control, exploit, or attack the electromagnetic spectrum and deny adversary access.

Application: Includes electronic attack (jamming), electronic protection (ECCM), and electronic support (SIGINT).

ECM – Electronic Countermeasures

Definition: Offensive actions using electromagnetic energy to jam, deceive, or deny enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Application: Used to disrupt enemy communications, radar, and navigation systems during combat operations.

ECCM – Electronic Counter-Countermeasures

Definition: Techniques and technologies that protect friendly communications and radars from enemy ECM and jamming, including frequency hopping, power management, and directional antennas.

Application: Ensures mission-critical communications remain operational in electronically contested environments.

Jamming

Definition: Deliberate transmission of radio signals to interfere with, disrupt, or deny enemy communications and radar operations.

Application: Offensive EW technique used to suppress enemy C2 networks during military operations.

Direction Finding (DF)

Definition: Techniques and equipment used to determine the direction or location of a radio transmitter by analyzing received signals from multiple receivers.

Application: Used for locating enemy transmitters, search and rescue, and spectrum monitoring.

SIGINT – Signals Intelligence

Definition: Intelligence derived from intercepted electronic signals, including communications intelligence (COMINT) and electronic intelligence (ELINT).

Application: Provides information about adversary intentions, capabilities, and locations through signal analysis.

JEWC – Joint Electronic Warfare Center

Definition: U.S. Joint Forces center responsible for coordinating electronic warfare operations, doctrine, and training across military services.

Application: Provides centralized EW planning, deconfliction, and support for combatant commands.

6. Military Tactical Communication Standards Technical Terms

MIL-STD-810

Definition: U.S. Department of Defense standard for environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests, covering shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity, altitude, and other environmental stresses.

Application: All military-grade tactical radios must pass MIL-STD-810 testing to ensure field reliability.

MIL-STD-461

Definition: U.S. Department of Defense standard for electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for military equipment.

Application: Ensures tactical radios do not interfere with other equipment and operate correctly in the presence of electromagnetic interference.

MIL-STD-188

Definition: U.S. Department of Defense standard series for interoperability and performance of military communications systems, covering interfaces, protocols, and signal characteristics.

Application: Ensures tactical communications equipment from different manufacturers can interoperate effectively.

IP67 / IP68

Definition: International Protection (Ingress Protection) ratings defining resistance to water and dust. IP67 = dust-tight, temporary immersion (1m/30min); IP68 = dust-tight, continuous immersion.

Application: Critical for tactical radios used in rain, water crossings, amphibious operations, and harsh field conditions.

STANAG – Standardization Agreement

Definition: NATO Standardization Agreements that establish common processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for military interoperability among member nations.

Application: Ensures tactical radios and communications systems from different NATO countries can work together.

Appendix: Additional Military Tactical Technical Terms

GPS – Global Positioning System

Definition: U.S.-operated satellite navigation system providing precise location, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to military and civilian users worldwide.

Application: Essential for Blue Force Tracking, navigation, artillery targeting, and time synchronization of communications.

SDR – Software Defined Radio

Definition: Radio communication system where components traditionally implemented in hardware (mixers, filters, modulators) are instead implemented through software on a general-purpose processor.

Application: Enables single radio hardware to support multiple waveforms and protocols through software updates.