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Electromagnetic Systems & Spectrum Operations

CDERT Electromagnetic Environment

Research

These days a lot of information is transmitted using electromagnetic waves at “radio frequencies” (RF). It is not just phone calls and the internet that use the electromagnetic spectrum to transfer information wirelessly, it is navigation systems, radars, headphones, medical devices... the list goes on and on. And as we move to the internet of things (IoT) more and more devices will talk to each other. How do we ensure that such devices don’t interfere with each other, or that they are not being deliberately interfered with, or the data altered?

In Australia, RF transmissions are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority ACMA. To transmit at certain frequencies requires a licence that must be purchased, providing an important source of revenue for the government.  

The use of mobile phone jammers, GPS jammers and mobile phone boosters is prohibited in Australia. These devices could be used to cause a high level of disruption to society and commercial activity and may present a significant safety risk in some cases. Penalties for breaching the rules can be a fine of up to $1.05 million or up to 5 years in prison.

The EME branch of CDERT conducts research into:

  • Detecting and locating users of the electromagnetic spectrum
  • Scheduling spectrum usage to avoid interference
  • Identifying when received data has been transmitted by a legitimate source

In this video Professor Drake explains what the electromagnetic environment is and how it is used to transmit data. He gives a brief history of the science and engineering behind the development of "radio frequency" data transfer. He highlights that more and more data is transmitted using electromagnetic waves and describes some of the vulnerabilities of this system.

More information

CDERT Home

Training 

Contact Us 

Training and upskilling

Do you work in the Defence industry and want to push your career forward?

Post-graduate study in Electromagnetic Systems and Spectrum Operations

Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or a
Master's program are available

Defence capability in Electronic Warfare is of critical importance for Australia. To address the skills shortage in Electronic Warfare, Flinders University in collaboration with the Australian Department of Defence have developed new post-graduate degrees in Electromagnetic Systems and Spectrum Operations (EMSSO). 

Only offered to personnel working in Defence or Defence Industries who have at least an NV1 clearance, our Electromagnetic Systems & Spectrum Operations post-graduate programs build on your existing engineering, physics or applied mathematics degrees to give you an enormous opportunity for your career development. 

Members of the Department of Defence may be eligible for funding to cover course costs (including HECS), and work release under the “Studybank” program. Details are available on the DRN

Learn more about the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or Master of Electromagnetic Systems and Spectrum operations

Researchers

Electromagnetic Systems and Spectrum Operations (ESSMO), also known as Electronic Warfare (EW) has emerged as a pivotal component of modern defence strategies, particularly for nations like Australia, which are geographically vast and located within a dynamically evolving strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific. With the rapid advancements in technology, adversaries now possess the capability to disrupt communication networks, target critical infrastructure, and challenge air and maritime superiority.

In an age where wars can be won or lost based on the quality and speed of information, EW stands out as an indispensable facet of Australia’s defence apparatus.

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Dr Alex Newcombe

HDR Adjunct Supervisor
Associate Researcher
College of Science & Engineering  
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Dr Jody McKerral (Fisher) 

Research Fellow
College of Science & Engineering  
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Professor Colin Coleman 

Senior Principal Research Fellow in Satellite Spectrum Monitoring
College of Science & Engineering  
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Andrew Lammas

Lecturer
Post Doctoral Research Associate
College of Science & Engineering  
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Alastair Wiegelmann    

PhD Candidate
HDR Student Researcher
College of Science & Engineering  
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Anthony Eldridge

PhD Candidate
College of Science & Engineering  
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Dr Joel Younger

Research Associate
College of Science & Engineering  
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Contact Us

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Professor Sam Drake

Co-Director, Centre for Defence Engineering Research and Training (Electronic Warfare) 
College of Science & Engineering  
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Dr Shengjin (Jammy) Chen 
Lecturer
Research and Training (Electronic Warfare) College of Science & Engineering  

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Last Updated: 20 Sep 2024

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