Radio Electronic Combat

Whereas the Co-orbital ASAT and the Gorgon ABM interceptor are limited in their ability to negate only satellites in LEO, electronic warfare techniques, known as Radio Electronic Combat (REC) in the Russian Federation, are potentially effective at all altitudes, including GEO. In the late 1980's, Russian officials openly acknowledged not only the possibility of employing REC against enemy satellites but also the country's interest and ability in such methods (References 112-113). REC is a basic tenet of Russian terrestrial war-fighting doctrine, but its application to satellites may leave the attacker with considerable uncertainty as to the outcome of the engagement.