ECM Suite

An Electronic Countermeasure (or ECM) Suite covers the area around the unit on which it is employed, disrupting sensors and communications. ECM Suites exist for BattleMechs, Battle Armor, Combat Vehicles, and AeroSpace Fighters.

All combat units, from 'Mechs to tanks to aircraft, are equipped with a basic level electronic warfare capability designed to make them harder to track and hit (especially by those not equipped with a modern Targeting-Tracking System). These systems are also relatively easy to update to deal with certain threats: within months of the deployment of the Listen-Kill Missile during the War of 3039, the Draconis Combine had developed and distributed a software plug-in which rendered it ineffectual.

'Mech ECM Suite

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Battle Armor ECM

Inner Sphere Systems

Guardian ECM

While electronic countermeasure systems had been in use for centuries in the Inner Sphere, towards the end of the Age of War these systems had become ubiquitous, making it much harder for units to find and target each other until it was too late. In an effort to combat this fog of war, the Star League developed the Beagle Active Probe to cut through the haze of electronic jamming and locate units quicker and sooner than before. However the League soon became concerned that it's Member States would acquire the Beagle and use it against them, leading to the development of the Guardian ECM Suite.

The Guardian ECM Suite proved to be a powerful electronic warfare device, jamming the Beagle and other advanced electronic systems, but maintaining the system proved too hard for the Great Houses after the fall of the Star League. The system went extinct in the Inner Sphere in 2845, until it was eventually recovered by the Capellan Confederation in 3045.

Electronic Warfare Equipment

Before the Helm Memory Core was decoded, the Capellan Confederation tried to re-create the Star League-era Guardian ECM suites. The resulting electronics package was known only as ECM Equipment when it appeared on the Raven in 3025. Given the technology level of the Succession Wars era, it isn't surprising that this equipment was heavier and bulkier than the systems that inspired it. Interestingly, it could operate in either an offensive or defensive capability: It could seek targets like a Beagle, or hide the unit mounting it like a Guardian. As it weighed as much as a standard PPC, took up as much room as an Autocannon/5, and had only half the range of the Guardian, production halted when the Confederation began production of their own Guardian systems in 3045.

Angel ECM

The experimental Angel ECM Suite was based on the early Guardian suite by the Draconis Combine during the Clan Invasion. More powerful than the Guardian, the Angle ECM proved difficult to develop and saw only limited deployment at first.

Battle Armor ECM

An ECM suite for Battle Armor was first developed for the Nighthawk power armor suit during the Star League era. The suite was later adapted for use on other battle armor designs.

Clan Systems

In the Clans, the Guardian ECM suite was used as the basis for an improved ECM Suite. This system can be found in every Clan's touman. They weigh a single ton, and can be mounted on nearly anything.

Rules

Game Rules

• In Tournament-level gameplay, the use of an ECM suite is to nullify the effects of other electronics, such as missile beacons, active probes, and fire control systems. It can also cut a unit off from a C3 Network.
• In Tactical Operations, additional uses for an ECM suite are shown as optional rules, including defeating other ECM and generating ghost targets.

Apocryphal Content

Apocryphal Content Starts

The information after this notice comes from apocryphal sources; the canonicity of such information is uncertain.
Please view the reference page for information regarding their canonicity.

• In MechWarrior IV: Mercenaries, the ECM is a selectable component for certain 'Mechs. It increases missile lock time for enemies and reduces the range at which the 'Mech can be detected.
• In MechCommander 2, the ECM is also a component for certain 'Mechs. It makes the 'Mech in question undetectable by sensors. It appears to have no effect on missiles, due to the way in which the game handles weapons fire.
• MechForce Germany created rules for the tonnage, crits and bare bones description of ECM equipment in the Raven TRO that was published in House Liao (The Capellan Confederation). Fantasy Productions GmbH then published these rules in Arena-Planet Solaris VII (the expanded German edition of the Solaris VII boxed set) as "ECM 3025".

Apocryphal Content Ends

Bibliography

• 20 Year Update
• BattleTech Master Rules
• Classic BattleTech Companion
• Historical: War of 3039
• Era Report: 2750
• Tactical Operations
• TechManual