The paper examines the factors determining the detection range of electromagnetic radiation sources in the VHF band. The impact of transmitter parameters, receiver characteristics, and radio wave propagation conditions on the capabilities of electronic intelligence (ELINT) is analyzed. It is shown that atmospheric refraction can increase the line-of-sight range by 15–20%, which is especially important for centimeter and decimeter waves. Detection range estimates for trench-mounted electronic warfare (EW) systems are provided, showing that it is limited by line-of-sight due to the weak influence of diffraction. The dependence of detection range on receiver sensitivity and antenna parameters is determined, allowing for the optimization of ELINT system specifications.