Current edition: ATP 3-12.3, Electromagnetic Warfare Techniques, dated 30 January 2023, with
Change 1 issued 18 September 2024. It supersedes the 16 July 2019 edition. This is the
techniques-level publication that complements FM 3-12 — where FM 3-12 sets doctrine, ATP 3-12.3 gets into the
how-to.
What this publication covers, who it's written for, and where it fits.
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Purpose
Provides doctrinal guidance and direction for conducting electromagnetic warfare during Army operations — roles, relationships, responsibilities, and capabilities, plus concrete techniques for using them.
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Audience
EW professionals, spectrum managers, and unit leaders at echelons theater army and below — plus trainers and educators Army-wide.
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Proponent
The U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon — nests with and supports FM 3-12 and JP 3-85. Readers should also know FM 3-0 and FM 6-0.
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A Bit of History
The publication opens with a WWII vignette — British forces used radio transmissions to overpower German radio receivers, successfully disrupting German command-and-control and navigation.
A quick map of where to find what.
| Chapter | Covers |
|---|
| 1 — Operational Environment & EW | Overview, the electromagnetic environment, EW divisions |
| 2 — Roles & Authorities | Responsibilities by echelon (theater army through brigade), authorities |
| 3 — Decision-Making Process | MDMP, EW planning considerations, equipment configuration, staff contributions |
| 4 — Electromagnetic Attack | Planning/execution/assessment, jamming techniques, EA in targeting |
| 5 — Electromagnetic Protection | EW/signal planning integration, preventing threat intercept and DF of friendly forces |
| 6 — Electromagnetic Support | SIGINT synchronization, lines of bearing, cuts, fixes, DF baseline and errors |
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Appendixes
A: RF propagation characteristics & EMS bands. B: jamming transmission-power formulas. C: friendly EW equipment/platforms (ground and airborne). D: forms, formats, reports, and messages for EW/spectrum management.
Offense and defense in the spectrum, at the technique level.
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Jamming Techniques
Chapter 4 covers jamming techniques and their characteristics, plus how electromagnetic attack fits into the targeting process.
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Preventing Threat Intercept
Chapter 5 gives radio users and staff concrete techniques to prevent threat radio interception, detection, and direction-finding targeting of friendly forces — practical, not just theoretical.
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EM Radiation Hazards
The publication addresses hazards of electromagnetic radiation to personnel, fuels, and ordnance — real safety considerations, not just tactical ones.
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EW and Signal Integration
Effective electromagnetic protection depends on integrating EW planning with signal planning — the two can't be handled in isolation.