In SEW performance metrics, latency refers to which of the following?

• A. The total mission duration
• B. The time delay from signal transmission to reception within the system
• C. The power consumption under peak load
• D. The number of supported users

Answer: (B)

Latency is the time delay between when a signal is transmitted and when it is received within the system. It accounts for all internal delays the signal experiences as it travels through the link, is processed by electronics, and possibly sits in queues before forwarding. In SEW, this timing is critical because timely information and responses matter for coordinating countermeasures, sensor data fusion, and control actions. Practically, you measure latency as the difference between the reception time and the transmission time for the same signal, including propagation, processing, and queuing delays along the path. The other metrics describe different aspects: total mission duration is about how long the whole operation lasts, power consumption under peak load is an energy measure, and the number of supported users reflects capacity, not timing.