I understand that MechWarrior Online is not a canon extension of the Battletech line, but there has been a lot of controversy revolving around the implementation of Guardian ECM. In MechWarrior, ECM prevents a 'Mech's sensors from detecting enemies outside of 200 meters, making it impossible to fire LRM's or Streak missiles as you have to target with sensors to achieve locks. Reading several descriptions from various readouts and the such makes me believe that ECM isn't suppose to completely deny sensors the ability to lock or track a target, more or less it prevents the identification of the target, supported by the following excerpts:
"The Guardian ECM Suite is a broad-spectrum jamming and electronic countermeasure device, designed to reduce the efficiency of enemy long range scanning and surveillance equipment. The Guardian interferes with sensor readings, preventing identification at ranges of more than 180 meters. Closer than that, 'Mech pilots usually rely on their own vision in case their sensors cannot overide the Guardian's jamming." Technical Readout 2750, page 10
The idea that Guardian just sort of scrambles the identity of a target, ie chassis type from sensors is somewhat supported by the Sensor Scanning rules in Tactical Operations (pg 219-220) in which ECM can prevent a player from gaining information like the above or damage or weapon loadouts.
Page 224 has a rule that states, "to be affected, the spotting unit must be in the normal operating radius of the ECM... LOS does not affect this radius."
Does this mean to have ECM interfere with sensor spotting the spotting unit has to be within the 180 meter ECM bubble projected by the Guardian, or does any line of sight crossing in to it get countered by the ECM, like how ECM defeats attacks augmented by Artemis that cross through the bubble?
More or less, I'm trying to get an answer if ECM was intended to be a counter missile system and defeat a targeting and tracking systems ability to lock on and employ guided systems like Streak Missiles / LRM's in an ECM environment. Thanks.