General Dynamics to upgrade Army SIGINT and EW vetronics

July 26, 2017
Mil-itary signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic warfare (EW) experts at General Dynamics Corp. will maintain and upgrade combat vehicle SIGINT vetronics systems to enhance the ability to detect, identify, locate, and deter a wide range of signal emissions on the battlefield.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Military signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic warfare (EW) experts at General Dynamics Corp. will maintain and upgrade combat vehicle SIGINT vetronics systems to enhance the ability to detect, identify, locate, and deter a wide range of signal emissions on the battlefield.

Officials of the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., announced a $250 million contract in June to the General Dynamics Mission Systems segment in Scottsdale, Ariz., to modify, test, train, and sustain the AN/MLQ-44 Prophet-Enhanced SIGINT vetronics systems.

General Dynamics also will continue development and integration of technology insertion capabilities for the Prophet-Enhanced system to keep the systems up to date against an evolving threat, officials say.

The Prophet system is composed of electronic components that are vehicle-mounted or soldier-transportable. Prophet offers a near-real-time picture of the battlespace through SIGINT sensors and high-performance computing.

General Dynamics will maintain and upgrade the Army's fleet of Prophet signals intelligence and electronic warfare vehicles.

The program is structured with the ability to incorporate new technologies as they become available. For example, General Dynamics is using the RS112 1U rugged server from Crystal Group Inc. in Hiawatha, Iowa.

Prophet is the Army division and armored cavalry regiment commander's principal SIGINT and electronic warfare (EW) system. It also enhances the tactical commander's capabilities in electronic intelligence battlespace visualization, target development, and force protection. Prophet offers electronic attack and navigation attack capability.

The Prophet system also provides near-real-time digital information to the Army division's common operating picture (COP), and is integrated with battlefield sensors, such as the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS), the Guardrail Common Sensor, Artillery Counter Mortar/Battery radars, and Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control/FAADC2.

Prophet's primary mission is to map radio-frequency (RF) emitters on the battlefield electronically from 20 MHz HF frequencies to 2000 MHz SHF frequencies. Electronic mapping detects, identifies, locates, and tracks all RF emitters operating within range, and helps coordinate these RF signatures with other battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

Prophet helps protect global positioning system (GPS) satellite navigation, helps detect intrusion or false GPS signals, and helps attack the enemy's ability to use the GPS or other satellite navigation and timing systems. The system also can intercept, disrupt, or eavesdrop on enemy radio communications.

On this contract, General Dynamics will do the work at locations determined with each order, and should be finished by June 2022.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit General Dynamics Mission Systems online at https://gdmissionsystems.com, and the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground at http://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-apg.

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