In response to the emerging concept of Cyber Electromagnetic Activities, or CEMA, Headquarters, Department of the Army recently updated, renamed, and published Army Regulation 525-15, formerly entitled "Software Reprogramming Policy for Electronic Warfare and Target Sensing Systems". With a new title of "Software Reprogramming for Cyber Electromagnetic Activities" and an effective date of 19 March 2016, the revised regulation focuses on supporting the integrated, multi-mission nature of CEMA through sustainment of the CEMA-enabling software-based systems.
Specifically, the revised AR 525-15: a) introduces an expanded scope for software reprogramming support to CEMA; b) adds responsibilities for HQDA, commands, and direct reporting units to provide support for Electronic Warfare reprogramming mission requirements; and c) establishes CEMA software reprogramming integration and interoperability implementation strategy. It also assigns CEMA software reprogramming responsibility to the Commanding General, Army Materiel Command (AMC), who HQDA tasks to "designate the Army Reprogramming Analysis Team, or ARAT Program Office (ARAT--PO), via charter, as the Army office responsible for maintaining the reprogramming infrastructure for EW system software sustainment, and to support to CEMA, as required".
For the past 25 years, the ARAT has been responsible, under the direction of AR 525-15, for rapid software reprogramming of Aviation Survivability Equipment, or ASE, such as Radar Signal Detecting Sets/Radar Warning Receivers and Missile Warning Systems. The ARAT's mission expanded in 2013 to include software sustainment of the Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device- Electronic Warfare, or CREW Duke V2/3 ground EW system. With the 2016 revision of AR 525-15, the ARAT mission will grow again through a focus not only on EW systems but also on systems that contribute to the other components of CEMA - Spectrum Management Operations and Cyber.
Located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the ARAT-PO is subordinate to the AMC's Communications-Electronic Command Software Engineering Center and manages ARAT activities at seven locations across the country, to include the Army's Aviation and Cyber Centers of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Alabama; AMC Headquarters, Huntsville, Alabama; and Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The ARAT activities work collaboratively to develop and disseminate the mission software that EW systems employ to conduct Electronic Attack, Electronic Warfare Support, and Electronic Protection through rapid software reprogramming. This sustainment includes the development and dissemination of EW Mission Software Products and Mission Enabling Software such as ASE Equipment software and CREW Threat Loads, and non-mission software products such as the ARAT Survivability Software Loader development.
As the Army invests in legacy and new systems that enable commanders to conduct CEMA, the revised AR 525-15 provides the guidance necessary for the Army, and especially the ARAT, to ensure maximum system software effectiveness, compatibility and interoperability while rapidly responding to changes in the electromagnetic environment.
The new regulation can be found and downloaded at the Army Publications website at the following link: http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r525_15.pdf.
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