Now, a few words on Jamming or OECM (Offensive Electronic Counter Measures) and their role in strike missions. I am not the best qualified to explain this subject but there are plenty of comments on the Forum, such as this.

One and a short explanation on the Command site and you can also look in the manual or ask a question on the Forum for more clarification. Some thoughts:

- The first thing to remember is that you are never really sure if your jamming is working and if your jammer is jammed chances are it's not so NEVER rely on jamming alone to get you through! Always assume that your jammer is not working and continue to use terrain masking, anti-radiation missiles, minimized altitude exposure and maximized escorts to get you to the target. Consider jamming as a bonus to mitigate risk.
- There are three general types of jamming platforms:

1. Ground based these tend to be Russian/Soviet types and are generally defensive in nature.
2. What I call wide body or large aircraft based like the EC-130 Compass Call or Tu-16 Badger J, these are for area jamming either offensive or defensive.
3. Tactical or escort jammers, these are the guys who can keep up with the strikers and stay close to protect them; such as the Tornado ECR, EA-6B Prowler, or the EF-18 Growler. These are often equipped with anti-radiation missiles and used for SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence) tasks. Two examples that I can think of can work for both area and escort, the EF-111 Raven and the SU-24MP Fencer F.

- Picture OECM as an electronic Smoke Screen that moves with the jamming unit. Try (and it is not always possible or advisable) to put the smoke screen between your attacking units and the enemy unit looking for it. For escort jammers in particular, being in front of the strikers is rarely a good idea, but if it is very close to the striker its electronic cloud should engulf and protect the strike aircraft as well.
- A good rule of thumb is that new jammers will work well against old radars, but the reverse is also true new radars will burn through old jammers quite easily.
- Remember that a jamming unit is very easy to detect. Perhaps an enemy will not be able to get an exact fix on it but once it turns its jammers on, it becomes a powerful emitter, detectable from a long distance. You may be protecting your unit's exact position, but you are letting the world know that there is something powerful coming their way.

In this situation the bad guys know you're coming, and your Prowlers have got very capable jammers that should affect the older SAM and radar systems you are facing. Turn up the noise and turn on your electronic smoke screen.