Electronic warfare: Difference between revisions

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== Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) ==

=== Mechanics, Modules, and Ships ===

=== Targeted ECM: Mechanics, Modules, and Ships ===

ECM causes the ~~target~~ to lose all of its current target locks (often called 'jamming' the ~~target~~). The jammed ship cannot target anyone for the duration of the ECM module's cycle (20 seconds), and can only re-acquire its targets after the ECM module fails to jam its target or stops cycling. ECM is often considered the most powerful of the four types of EWAR, because it ~~disables nearly all of the target's~~ interactions with other ships.

ECM causes the targeted ship to lose all of its current target locks (often called 'jamming' the targeted ship). The jammed ship cannot target anyone or anything for the duration of the ECM module's cycle (20 seconds), and can only re-acquire its targets after the ECM module fails to jam its target or stops cycling. ECM is often considered the most powerful of the four types of EWAR, because it renders an opponent virtually helpless, disabling their interactions with other ships and with their environment.

However, there are two unique downsides to ECM. First, ECM modules jam their targets at the '''end''' of their 20-second module cycle, which means that the jamming ship has to stay alive and locked for 20 seconds before the opposing ship is jammed. Second, the success of each ECM module cycle is a matter of chance, with a probability that depends on the jam strength of the ECM module, the sensor strength of the target (with larger targets generally harder to jam than smaller ones), ~~and target~~ range ~~beyond~~ optimal. ~~Sometimes~~ you will jam the opposing ship, and sometimes you won't, and each cycle of your ECM modules is like a roll of the dice.

However, there are two important, unique downsides to ECM. First, ECM modules jam their targets at the '''end''' of their 20-second module cycle, which means that the jamming ship has to stay alive and locked for 20 seconds before the opposing ship is jammed. As a result, ECM pilots are often high-priority targets for opposing fleets. Second, the success of each ECM module cycle is a matter of chance, with a probability that depends on the jam strength of the ECM module and the sensor strength of the target (with larger targets generally harder to jam than smaller ones). That probability is also affected by the distance to the target; ECM modules have the same, base chance-to-jam anywhere within the module's optimal range, but the chance decreases through falloff, such that ECM is only half as likely to work at (optimal + falloff). Taken together, all this means that sometimes you will jam the opposing ship, and sometimes you won't, and each cycle of your ECM modules is like a roll of the dice.

ECM is the EWAR specialty of the Caldari race. A number of Caldari ships are bonused for ECM:

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*[[Widow]] (Black Ops battleship)

In addition, the [[Tengu]] (the Caldari Tech III cruiser) can be fit with subsystems that give it bonuses to ECM, but these subsystems are rarely used. The Caldari are the only race that fields an EWAR-bonused ~~Tech I battleship~~ (the [[Scorpion]]). Because of the low base strength of ECM modules, the bonuses from these Caldari ships are necessary, in practice, to get any useful effect from ECM. Fitting ECM to any other ship is a waste of a slot.

In addition, the [[Tengu]] (the Caldari Tech III cruiser) can be fit with subsystems that give it bonuses to ECM, but these subsystems are rarely used. The Caldari are the only race that fields EWAR-bonused battleships (the [[Scorpion]] and [[Widow]]). Because of the low base strength of ECM modules, the bonuses from these Caldari ships are necessary, in practice, to get any useful effect from ECM. Fitting ECM to any other ship is a waste of a slot.

ECM modules can be racially specific—excellent at jamming one target race's sensor type, but poor against the other three—or they can be "multispectral", equally mediocre at jamming all four races' sensors. Tech I ECM modules are available in meta versions with improved range ("Scoped"), CPU fitting ("Compact"), or capacitor usage ("Enduring"). ~~That~~ means that there are very many Tech I modules that accomplish targeted ECM, and even more Tech II, faction and storyline variants. To illustrate the differences between the most common modules, the table below compares Tech I and II ECM modules that target Amarr (Radar) ships:

ECM modules can be racially specific—excellent at jamming one target race's sensor type, but poor against the other three—or they can be "multispectral", equally mediocre at jamming all four races' sensors. Tech I ECM modules are available in meta versions with improved range ("Scoped"), CPU fitting ("Compact"), or capacitor usage ("Enduring"). All of these variations means that there are very many Tech I modules that accomplish targeted ECM, and even more Tech II, faction and storyline variants. To illustrate the differences between the most common modules, the table below compares Tech I and II ECM modules that target Amarr (Radar) ships:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

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|-

| Multispectral ECM I

| 50 || 1 || 72 || 16.0 km || 18.0 km || 2~~.0 |~~| 2.0 || I

| 50 || 1 || 72 || 16.0 km || 18.0 km | colspan="2" | 2.0 || I

|}

The first five modules in the table—Tech I, meta, and Tech II—also exist, with slightly different names, for specific targeting of Minmatar (Ladar), Gallente (Magnetometric), and Caldari (Gravimetric) sensors. Multispectral ECM modules are likewise available in meta, Tech II, faction and storyline variants. For racially specific modules, the color of the module indicates the race that it targets. Multispectral ECM modules are white.

The table above shows that multispectral ECM modules are harder to fit, use more capacitor, and have poorer range than racially specific ECM modules. As a result, Unistas are often advised to initially fit a "rainbow" of racially specific modules, covering all four target races, instead of multispectral modules. ECM pilots can then carry additional modules in their cargo holds, to re-fit in station (or in space, if they also carry a Mobile Depot) according to intel on enemy fleet compositions.

The table above shows that multispectral ECM modules are harder to fit, use more capacitor, and have poorer range than racially specific ECM modules. As a result, Unistas are often advised to initially fit a "rainbow" of racially specific modules, covering all four target races, instead of multispectral modules. ECM pilots can then carry additional modules in their cargo holds, to re-fit in station (or in space, if they also carry a Mobile Depot) and match racial types according to intel on enemy fleet compositions. To put these numbers into perspective, a low-skill Griffin pilot with a jam strength of ~6 on each racially matched ECM module would have a 35% chance of jamming an opposing Tech I cruiser with each module's cycle. Given that the Griffin is typically fit with four ECM modules, it is easy to imagine a new Unista ECM pilot countering even a skilled enemy.

The UniWiki's [[ECM Guide]] covers ECM mechanics in more detail, including a mathematical analysis of ~~the~~ jamming ~~probability~~ for different scenarios.

The UniWiki's [[ECM Guide]] covers ECM mechanics in more detail, including a mathematical analysis of jamming probabilities for different scenarios.

=== Burst Jammers ===

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=== ECM Bonuses ===

==== ~~Modules:~~ Signal Distortion Amplifiers and Warfare Links ====

==== Signal Distortion Amplifiers and Warfare Links ====

ECM is also unique in being the only type of EWAR with a low-slot assistance module, the Signal Distortion Amplifier. Signal Distortion Amplifiers are passive modules that provide a percentage increase to the jam strength and ECM range of your ECM modules.

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Unlike ECM modules, Signal Distortion Amplifiers have not yet been re-balanced by CCP. So, because the Tech I, meta 4 'Hypnos' module has better stats than the Tech II module, it is the only version commonly used.

ECM is also assisted by a combat booster with the '''Information Warfare Link - Electronic Superiority''' (increases jam strength) and/or '''Recon Operation''' (increases range) modules active.

ECM can also assisted by a combat booster with the '''Information Warfare Link - Electronic Superiority''' (increases jam strength) and/or '''Recon Operation''' (increases range) modules active.

==== ECM Rigs ====

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In addition, the '''Low-''' and '''Mid-Grade Centurion''' implant series provides bonuses to the optimal range of all EWAR modules, and the '''Zainou 'Gypsy' Electronic Warfare EW-901/906''' reduces the activation cost of ECM and Burst Jammers by 1-6%.

== Tracking Disruption (TD) ==

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) ==
-=== Mechanics, Modules, and Ships ===
+=== Targeted ECM: Mechanics, Modules, and Ships ===
-ECM causes the target to lose all of its current target locks (often called 'jamming' the target). The jammed ship cannot target anyone for the duration of the ECM module's cycle (20 seconds), and can only re-acquire its targets after the ECM module fails to jam its target or stops cycling. ECM is often considered the most powerful of the four types of EWAR, because it disables nearly all of the target's interactions with other ships.
+ECM causes the targeted ship to lose all of its current target locks (often called 'jamming' the targeted ship). The jammed ship cannot target anyone or anything for the duration of the ECM module's cycle (20 seconds), and can only re-acquire its targets after the ECM module fails to jam its target or stops cycling. ECM is often considered the most powerful of the four types of EWAR, because it renders an opponent virtually helpless, disabling their interactions with other ships and with their environment.
-However, there are two unique downsides to ECM. First, ECM modules jam their targets at the '''end''' of their 20-second module cycle, which means that the jamming ship has to stay alive and locked for 20 seconds before the opposing ship is jammed. Second, the success of each ECM module cycle is a matter of chance, with a probability that depends on the jam strength of the ECM module, the sensor strength of the target (with larger targets generally harder to jam than smaller ones), and target range beyond optimal. Sometimes you will jam the opposing ship, and sometimes you won't, and each cycle of your ECM modules is like a roll of the dice.
+However, there are two important, unique downsides to ECM. First, ECM modules jam their targets at the '''end''' of their 20-second module cycle, which means that the jamming ship has to stay alive and locked for 20 seconds before the opposing ship is jammed. As a result, ECM pilots are often high-priority targets for opposing fleets. Second, the success of each ECM module cycle is a matter of chance, with a probability that depends on the jam strength of the ECM module and the sensor strength of the target (with larger targets generally harder to jam than smaller ones). That probability is also affected by the distance to the target; ECM modules have the same, base chance-to-jam anywhere within the module's optimal range, but the chance decreases through falloff, such that ECM is only half as likely to work at (optimal + falloff). Taken together, all this means that sometimes you will jam the opposing ship, and sometimes you won't, and each cycle of your ECM modules is like a roll of the dice.
 ECM is the EWAR specialty of the Caldari race. A number of Caldari ships are bonused for ECM:
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 *[[Widow]] (Black Ops battleship)
-In addition, the [[Tengu]] (the Caldari Tech III cruiser) can be fit with subsystems that give it bonuses to ECM, but these subsystems are rarely used. The Caldari are the only race that fields an EWAR-bonused Tech I battleship (the [[Scorpion]]). Because of the low base strength of ECM modules, the bonuses from these Caldari ships are necessary, in practice, to get any useful effect from ECM. Fitting ECM to any other ship is a waste of a slot.
+In addition, the [[Tengu]] (the Caldari Tech III cruiser) can be fit with subsystems that give it bonuses to ECM, but these subsystems are rarely used. The Caldari are the only race that fields EWAR-bonused battleships (the [[Scorpion]] and [[Widow]]). Because of the low base strength of ECM modules, the bonuses from these Caldari ships are necessary, in practice, to get any useful effect from ECM. Fitting ECM to any other ship is a waste of a slot.
-ECM modules can be racially specific—excellent at jamming one target race's sensor type, but poor against the other three—or they can be "multispectral", equally mediocre at jamming all four races' sensors. Tech I ECM modules are available in meta versions with improved range ("Scoped"), CPU fitting ("Compact"), or capacitor usage ("Enduring"). That means that there are very many Tech I modules that accomplish targeted ECM, and even more Tech II, faction and storyline variants. To illustrate the differences between the most common modules, the table below compares Tech I and II ECM modules that target Amarr (Radar) ships:
+ECM modules can be racially specific—excellent at jamming one target race's sensor type, but poor against the other three—or they can be "multispectral", equally mediocre at jamming all four races' sensors. Tech I ECM modules are available in meta versions with improved range ("Scoped"), CPU fitting ("Compact"), or capacitor usage ("Enduring"). All of these variations means that there are very many Tech I modules that accomplish targeted ECM, and even more Tech II, faction and storyline variants. To illustrate the differences between the most common modules, the table below compares Tech I and II ECM modules that target Amarr (Radar) ships:
 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 |-
 | Multispectral ECM I
-| 50 || 1 || 72 || 16.0 km || 18.0 km || 2.0 || 2.0 || I
+| 50 || 1 || 72 || 16.0 km || 18.0 km | colspan="2" | 2.0 || I
 |}
 The first five modules in the table—Tech I, meta, and Tech II—also exist, with slightly different names, for specific targeting of Minmatar (Ladar), Gallente (Magnetometric), and Caldari (Gravimetric) sensors. Multispectral ECM modules are likewise available in meta, Tech II, faction and storyline variants. For racially specific modules, the color of the module indicates the race that it targets. Multispectral ECM modules are white.
-The table above shows that multispectral ECM modules are harder to fit, use more capacitor, and have poorer range than racially specific ECM modules. As a result, Unistas are often advised to initially fit a "rainbow" of racially specific modules, covering all four target races, instead of multispectral modules. ECM pilots can then carry additional modules in their cargo holds, to re-fit in station (or in space, if they also carry a Mobile Depot) according to intel on enemy fleet compositions.
+The table above shows that multispectral ECM modules are harder to fit, use more capacitor, and have poorer range than racially specific ECM modules. As a result, Unistas are often advised to initially fit a "rainbow" of racially specific modules, covering all four target races, instead of multispectral modules. ECM pilots can then carry additional modules in their cargo holds, to re-fit in station (or in space, if they also carry a Mobile Depot) and match racial types according to intel on enemy fleet compositions. To put these numbers into perspective, a low-skill Griffin pilot with a jam strength of ~6 on each racially matched ECM module would have a 35% chance of jamming an opposing Tech I cruiser with each module's cycle. Given that the Griffin is typically fit with four ECM modules, it is easy to imagine a new Unista ECM pilot countering even a skilled enemy.
-The UniWiki's [[ECM Guide]] covers ECM mechanics in more detail, including a mathematical analysis of the jamming probability for different scenarios.
+The UniWiki's [[ECM Guide]] covers ECM mechanics in more detail, including a mathematical analysis of jamming probabilities for different scenarios.
 === Burst Jammers ===
@@ Line 99: / Line 99: @@
 === ECM Bonuses ===
-==== Modules: Signal Distortion Amplifiers and Warfare Links ====
+==== Signal Distortion Amplifiers and Warfare Links ====
 ECM is also unique in being the only type of EWAR with a low-slot assistance module, the Signal Distortion Amplifier. Signal Distortion Amplifiers are passive modules that provide a percentage increase to the jam strength and ECM range of your ECM modules.
@@ Line 124: / Line 124: @@
 Unlike ECM modules, Signal Distortion Amplifiers have not yet been re-balanced by CCP. So, because the Tech I, meta 4 'Hypnos' module has better stats than the Tech II module, it is the only version commonly used.
-ECM is also assisted by a combat booster with the '''Information Warfare Link - Electronic Superiority''' (increases jam strength) and/or '''Recon Operation''' (increases range) modules active.
+ECM can also assisted by a combat booster with the '''Information Warfare Link - Electronic Superiority''' (increases jam strength) and/or '''Recon Operation''' (increases range) modules active.
 ==== ECM Rigs ====
@@ Line 146: / Line 146: @@
 In addition, the '''Low-''' and '''Mid-Grade Centurion''' implant series provides bonuses to the optimal range of all EWAR modules, and the '''Zainou 'Gypsy' Electronic Warfare EW-901/906''' reduces the activation cost of ECM and Burst Jammers by 1-6%.
 == Tracking Disruption (TD) ==