Communications, Radar & Electronic Warfare (201.. - Index of

19Countering Radio-Controlled rEDs19.1 Introduction to IEDs19.1.1 Asymmetric WmjareImprovised Explosive Devices (IEDs) form one aspect of asymmetric warfare.Asymmetric warfare is where one side in a conflict resorts to different methodsthan the other. Typically, it is the weaker side that resorts to methods such as IEOs.IEDs have historically been used extensively in many conflicts, including Vietnam,Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Afghanistan and Iraq among many others. Thetype and sophistication of the IEDs used have varied according to the skills ofthe users and the context of the operational theatre. In many cases, unexplodedmunitions have been used as the source of the explosive material. In others, theexplosives have been created from available materials such as those used in fertiliserbasedsystems.The benefits of IEDs to the weaker side are that they can be used without exposingthe operators to detection until too late, that they can pick and choose the time, placeand target at will. If military targets are too well defended, then many other targetscan be selected, including infrastructure such as particular buildings, bridges, roadsand other targets important to the target organisation. They can also be aimed atspecific people, transport systems or other targets the destruction of which is designedto reduce morale among the enemy and their people. Attacks can be aimed at slowingenemy forces down, tying up enemy personnel in defending locations and anti-IEDactivities, producing civilian unrest and causing disaffection to the enemy's populationthrough generating rising and continuous casualties. In most recent conflicts, this hasbeen the principal aim for those using IEDs; to reduce political will to fight, rather thandefeating the enemy on the ground.COl11l11UlllcatiollS, Radar and Electronic Hlmfare© 2011 John Wiley & Sons, LtdAdrian Graham