Information warfare: radar in World War II as an historical example

Abstract

Emerging technologies have increased the capability to acquire and use data as a weapon in warfare. Although aggregated under a common term, information warfare actually represents a variety of different ways with different actors in different environments that information can be used as part of an arsenal. One important form of information warfare is decision making (or OODA-loop) warfare, in which a defender or attacker uses information acquisition or processing technology to complete their decision making cycle quicker than an opponent can to maintain the initiative in the battle. Such a type of information warfare was used during the Battle of Britain in World War 2. Radar was an enabling technology that gave Great Britain an edge in the decision making process that contributed to England's ultimate victory in the battle.