Which of the following desired characteristics may be most ensured by using equipment redundancy and transmission diversity?

Using equipment redundancy and transmission diversity primarily enhances reliability. Reliability in an electronic warfare context refers to the system's ability to perform its intended functions consistently over time. By incorporating redundant systems, where multiple components are available to perform the same function, the overall system can continue to operate even if one component fails. This redundancy ensures that the mission can be sustained without interruption, which is critical in high-stakes environments where continuous operation is necessary.

Transmission diversity complements this by allowing multiple paths or methods for data transmission, reducing the likelihood of losing critical information due to interference or a singular point of failure. When both redundancy and diversity are in place, the system can manage potential failures more effectively, leading to increased trust in the performance of the system under diverse scenarios.

While availability, affordability, and interoperability are also important characteristics, they do not directly stem from the principles of redundancy and diversity in the same way that reliability does. Availability refers to the system's readiness for use, which may be affected by reliability but is not guaranteed solely through redundancy and diversity. Affordability relates to cost-effectiveness, which is not inherently improved by these techniques. Interoperability is about the ability to work with other systems, which might involve a different set of considerations than reliability. Thus