STUTTGART, Germany — A Fort Hood, Texas-based armored brigade that just arrived in Europe for a nine-month rotation is bringing with it Wild Bill, a new electronic warfare platoon that Army officials say strengthens NATO’s eastern flank. https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/wild-bill-platoon-brings-new-electronic-warfare-skills-to-army-s-force-in-europe-1.653301#.X8EXfzCDmmA.twitter

“We love to fight in the information space,” said Col. Michael Schoenfeldt, who commands the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

The Ironhorse Brigade formally takes over the Atlantic Resolve mission, focused on deterring Russia, on Monday when it replaces the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division as the Army’s rotational tank brigade in Europe.

The arrival of the nearly 5,000 Fort Hood soldiers, who will carry out training missions from the Baltics & Poland to the Black Sea region, marks the 7th time the Army has rotated a heavy brigade into Eu.

The initiative was launched after Russia’s 2014 intervention in Ukraine, which made reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank a top priority for allies.

New for this deployment is the Wild Bill platoon

Even when on the move, the unit can see whenever an adversary emits a signal from a cell phone, smart watch or other wireless device

The unit can then direct strikes at the target if needed.

At Fort Hood, the Wild Bill platoon tested a capability designed to serve as the command’s eyes and ears in the electronic realm.

The platoon also can carry out fire missions in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which differentiates it from some other electronic warfare platoons.

The fires section makes Wild Bill a true fire-and-maneuver element rather than a simple collection asset,”

The platoon can see nearly any high and ultra-high frequency range, and seek out emitters at 6 miles away or further

The new Wild Bill platoon formation is an example of how units are making changes as they organize to counter more sophisticated potential adversaries like Russia.

Protecting communications networks and exploiting those of an adversary is crucial for ground units, which rely on networks to carry out missions.

Real-time actionable intelligence “will determine the difference between victory & defeat,” Schoenfeldt wrote in the Army magazine.

Much of Schoenfeldt’s brigade is in Grafenwoehr, Germany, where they are under a restriction of movement before they fan out to Poland and elsewhere.

The coronavirus has forced extra health precautions on the unit, but training still continues, Schoenfeldt said.

PSA: important to share articles like this one.