The purpose of a strategic EW system is to support the strategic intelligence cycle. ES stations are tasked by the Operations Control Centre, based on strategic intelligence requirements. Transmissions of interest are intercepted and transmitters are located by the ES stations. Collected transmission data consisting of intercepts with Audio/IF recordings and Direction Finding LOBs can be processed either at the local ES station or at the central Operations Control Centre.
Processed intercepts are archived and so become available for data mining and intelligence analysis. EA stations can be tasked for strategic jamming operations based on data collected by the ES stations.