In recent years, global conflict and geopolitical and social unrest have fueled an unprecedented deployment of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). These events include the war in Ukraine along with the war in the Middle East and tensions in other global hotspots. In parallel, electronic warfare (EW) has continued to evolve, leading to more frequent and increasingly sophisticated threats. More than ever, nations have heightened their security and are investing in the right solutions to counter these new threats. Governments and defense teams worldwide require flexible, adaptable counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems that can be easily deployed and match their unique requirements.
However, the complexity and speed at which modern conflict develops means it is practically impossible for a single provider to own all the necessary technologies and provide a best-in-class solution suitable for all forms of threats today and in the future. This, paired with a crowded UAS space, means decisions may be hard for end-users to make and costly when not adequately matched to the threat they face. The ability to counter threats and provide communication security is considered among the highest global priorities and is where RF plays a vital role. But what can governments and defense teams do to future-proof their nations from UAS threats? What should be front of mind when choosing and upgrading C-UAS capabilities?
COMINT FOR C-UAS
It is critical to understand how tactical communications intelligence (COMINT) enables teams to survey and map the electromagnetic spectrum and provide key data and information supporting missions and C-UAS operations. Today, COMINT RF receivers are not only capable of delivering superior threat analysis at a time of heightened EW activity but are also being deployed by teams as the first line of C-UAS. From a defense perspective, COMINT has never been used on the massive scale that is now being deployed on worldwide battlefields.
This presents unique challenges as teams seek to adapt to an increasingly congested RF environment. Some of the threats facing COMINT and C-UAS are the fragility of library-based systems and the speed of evolution and operating frequency values. For instance, library systems can be susceptible to frequent pattern alterations by malicious actors, resulting in compromised systems.
Figure 1 Example of the BLACKTALON Ecosystem with integrated sensors.
The passive nature of COMINT also allows successful forward positioning and the ability to perform two important roles remotely with one piece of equipment. For example, the SPX Communication Technologies BLACKTALON C-UAS system can effectively jam a combination of GNSS, command, control and telemetry signals used by both commercial and military UAS. This ensures a decisive advantage in countering threats while safeguarding friendly RF signals from unintended inhibition. BLACKTALON is an open architecture solution that can be configured for a user interface, passive RF detectors, active radars, electro-optical sensors and a multi-band RF inhibitor that relies on SDR. The solution enables an ecosystem, allowing users to integrate legacy or preferred sensors and incorporate their command-and-control system of choice. The system operates over a frequency range of 20 MHz to 8 GHz with a detection range of more than 20 kilometers. High gain, directional antennas transmit the inhibition waveforms, ensuring that the antennas affect the target. These antennas have a nominal 20-degree beamwidth, ultimately providing the power density required at the target UAS while mitigating collateral impact upon other systems. An example of the BLACKTALON Ecosystem containing the BLACKTALON system along with a Weibel radar, OpenWorks camera and Claw jammer is shown in Figure 1.
DEVELOPMENTS IN C-UAS TECHNOLOGY
A steady evolution of UAS has led to deploying directional and omnidirectional RF inhibitor systems. While every scenario requires a tailored approach, both jamming configurations have proven effective for governments and defense teams in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Designed for defense, security and critical national infrastructure operational environments, directional RF inhibitors, like the Claw system by Enterprise Control Systems (ECS), which is part of SPX Communication Technologies, are tailored to focus specifically on the UAS threat and the command-and-control video links these systems use. By utilizing software-defined radios, which leverage software instead of hardware components to generate signals, teams can improve control of their source images and tailor the output across a particular band, creating additional flexibility in the process.
Figure 2 Claw RF jammer exploded view on a positioner.
The Claw system combines RF power electronics with a high gain quintuple-band antenna system designed to be mounted on suitable pan-and-tilt platforms. The inhibitor comprises two RF units covering the GNSS, 433 MHz, 915 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz ISM and Wi-Fi frequency bands with RF output powers to the antennas of up to 40 W. The antennas have a nominal gain of 15 to 17 dBiC, producing an EIRP of over 300 W each for the 433 MHz and 915 MHz bands, over 1250 W for the 2.4 GHz band and 500 W for the 5.8 GHz band. Figure 2 shows an exploded view rendering of the ECS Claw RF jammer mounted on a positioner in a side-mount configuration.
On the other hand, omnidirectional RF inhibitors have become widely deployed for close self-protection applications. These application cases range from individual team members to vehicles. While unable to reach the ranges of a directional jammer, omnidirectional systems have been successfully deployed as the last line of defense with ranges of up to 400 m. It should also be noted that this last line of defense will continue to play a key role in protecting teams worldwide as warfighters face increasing threat levels.
Furthermore, reactive inhibiting is an additional and more bespoke approach, allowing end-users to act only when a signal is detected. Ultimately, reactive jamming will enable teams to assess the core frequencies used to control a threat and deploy a proportionately targeted response in near real-time. While this may seem ideal, it can also create significant compromises around filter constraints, power amplifiers and other signal conditioning elements. Solutions like the Claw RF inhibitor help keep pace with change and enable added flexibility.
It is also important to note a global resurgence in high frequency (HF) band (3 to 30 MHz) communications as a replacement for modern-day satellite communications (satcom). The challenge with satcom is that it can fall short in today’s uneasy environment since hostile forces can easily disrupt or interfere with the signals. First deployed in the 1930s, HF was a popular choice for safe, omnidirectional communication like shore-to-shore and ship-to-shore over distances of around 500 to 5000 km. In turn, this has created an urgent need to be able to intercept HF communication to counter any nefarious activity being enabled by its use. In addition to directional and omnidirectional inhibitors, HF direction finding (HF/DF) is increasingly used as a critical tool to provide the intercept and source transmission location when HF frequencies are used as an alternative to beyond-line-of-sight satcom.
THE ROLE OF DATA
Figure 3 Blackbird COMINT software display.
Software is proving to be a key element in C-UAS efforts, working in conjunction with these RF-inhibiting systems and antennas. To help coordinate and standardize missions, teams must work closely with the broader EW and defense intelligence communities to ensure that COMINT teams have real-time and remote data access. For instance, the SPX Communication Technologies Blackbird software detects, identifies, direction-finds and tracks signals of interest to enable support, find, fix and strike operations and mitigate EW threats. Integrated into an SPX Communication Technologies COMINT RF receiver, it also helps track the RF emission of UAS and their controllers or data links to support counter-responses. Blackbird can record the signal environment for look-back analysis without interrupting the mission. It simplifies the collection task, triggers automated actions and supports unattended operations. An example of the screen display and environment for the Blackbird software tracking four emitters in an industrial setting in Fremont, Calif., is shown in Figure 3.
Understanding and managing the electromagnetic spectrum is critical to all operations. SPX Communication Technologies has enhanced Blackbird to enable greater coordination and command-and-control functions. While many are discussing the creation of NATO’s Recognized Electromagnetic Picture (REMP) concept as a desirable option, it is largely already available and utilized to good effect. By building better and more robust systems, we can help retrieve devices and their data that may otherwise be destroyed on the battlefield or in conflict. This allows teams to keep ahead of the curve and anticipate new threats.
COLLABORATING FOR A BETTER FUTURE
SPX Communication Technologies supports governments and defense teams in the most challenging of missions by providing them with directional and omnidirectional inhibiting, along with HF/DF capabilities. The ultimate goal of these activities is to deliver enhanced range, flexibility and accuracy for existing and new systems. These capabilities will enable agencies and companies to maintain a clear tactical advantage and a more targeted approach to ensure a brighter, more secure future for all. As tensions have grown, the interest in the HF frequency range has grown significantly and this will only increase going forward due to its secure transmission capabilities.
Figure 4 C-UAS system with BLACKTALON and integrated sensors.
Figure 5 C-UAS system with BLACKTALON and different integrated sensors.
The last few years have seen changes resulting in many new challenges facing the industry and the ecosystem. An important part of the role of the supply chain ecosystem is to educate global defense and security teams on what solutions and capabilities best fit their needs, expertise and even geography. Collaboration among providers and end-users is necessary to ensure the best possible outcome. A key example of this approach is the BLACKTALON C-UAS Ecosystem. Systems like these are already helping break down barriers of threat response and will continue evolving to support future C-UAS needs.
The BLACKTALON Ecosystem integrates SPX Communication Technologies’ BLACKTALON C-UAS technology and decades of expertise in the space with a vendor-agnostic framework. This approach ensures that solutions can meet every customer’s unique set of requirements. In addition to the system flexibility, defense and security teams can create solutions tailored to their specific concepts of operations, threats, user groups, existing capabilities and budgets.
The core BLACKTALON solution includes carefully selected active radars, EOIR, passive RFDF, RF jammers and mast configurations. In addition to this standard configuration, a new, open architecture approach to the BLACKTALON Ecosystem allows any of these elements to be customized or replaced. This flexibility provides customers access to the latest systems and hardware capabilities without unnecessary barriers and in a suitable time frame.
For instance, customers can choose autonomous optical tracking from OpenWorks Engineering, cutting-edge 3D radar from U.S. provider Echodyne, RF subsystems from SPX and mount them on a range of dispersed or centrally located mobile or transportable masts to provide a single scalable BLACKTALON C-UAS capability. An example of a BLACKTALON system configured with these suppliers is shown in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows another implementation of the ecosystem that uses the BLACKTALON C-UAS solution alongside existing providers Chess Dynamics, a supplier of surveillance, fire control and large positioning systems and Blighter, the U.K.’s leading supplier of ground-based electronic scanning radar systems. This version of the system is mounted on a vehicle from Iveco Defence Vehicles.
LOOKING AHEAD
Since threats continue to evolve rapidly, the tools that provide teams with critical protection must keep pace before the potential threats materialize into reality. In the future, as UAS and other uncrewed attacks continue to evolve, the effectiveness of C-UAS solutions will depend mainly upon the ability to understand and foresee next-generation technology that is likely to be deployed and adapt solutions rapidly to counter these threats. C-UAS must ultimately form part of every country’s overall strategic defense capability. To ensure defense and security organizations remain ahead of threats, the industry continues to review them and innovate to solve the challenges governments and defense teams often do not yet know they face.
The rate of change within this segment in the last 24 months has been unprecedented. Some concepts currently being dreamed up online suggest this pace will continue accelerating and permeating every aspect of our lives. Building relationships and collaborating with trusted partners will be essential to deliver the best and most appropriate technologies. Solutions manufacturers must focus on innovation and progress as their primary goals. Providers like SPX Communication Technologies will continue to do so by delivering the right capabilities, supported by proven technology, in collaboration with customers and the industry.
