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Appendix J

The Joint Restricted Frequency List

J-1. General

The JRFL is a management tool designed to minimize frequency conflicts between friendly communications/noncommunications emitters and friendly jamming equipment. More specifically, the JRFL is a time and geographical listing of prioritized frequencies essential to the conduct of the battle and restricted from targeting by friendly ECM. Consisting of taboo, guarded, and protected frequencies, the JRFL assists staff members involved in spectrum management.

J-2. Purpose

The JRFL is constructed and maintained throughout the battle to graphically depict the commander's priorities for electromagnetic spectrum use. It displays to the staff and operational forces the frequencies guarded for signal intelligence (SIGINT) use or restricted from friendly jamming due to criticality of friendly operations. Candidate nodes/nets are submitted for ECM protection of the Joint Communications-Electronics Warfare System. This submission includes net designation, frequency, type equipment, type modulation, location, time period, and a short justification. Figure J-1 shows an example of a JRFL.

J-3. Definitions

Taboo frequencies are any friendly functions/frequencies of such importance that they must never be deliberately jammed or interfered with by friendly forces. These functions/frequencies include international distress, stop buzzer, safety, and controller frequencies. These functions/frequencies are generally long-standing; however, they can be time-oriented, in that, as the combat/exercise situation changes, the restriction can be removed by the originating headquarters.

Protected functions/frequencies are those friendly functions/frequencies used for a particular operation, identified and protected to prevent them from being inadvertently jammed by friendly forces while active EW operations are directed against hostile forces. The functions/frequencies are of such critical importance that jamming is restricted unless absolutely necessary or until coordination with the using unit is made. They are time-oriented, can change with the tactical situation, and are updated periodically.

Guarded functions/frequencies are enemy functions/frequencies that are currently being exploited for combat information and intelligence. A guarded function/frequency is time-oriented, in that the list changes as the enemy assumes different combat postures. These functions/frequencies can be jammed after the commander has weighed the potential operational gain against the loss of technical and tactical information.