Radio intelligence: history of creation, composition, structure and technical equipment

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:40

Radio intelligence has its own objects for study. This is the enemy's armed potential: checkpoints, warehouses, rear units, headquarters, etc. Such intelligence does not contact them, but uses electronic means (RES). They, together with radio communications, are sources of information.

Operating principles

Radio intelligence for the extraction of strategic information uses the following techniques:

• detection;
• interception;
• locating.

Intelligence information is obtained by detecting functioning, calculating the parameters of intercepted signals and identifying the positions of radar sites.

Active radio communications and location are calculated using direction finding. The functioning of electronic intelligence is based on the following patterns:

1. The inevitability of intensive use of radio communications and location to control all types of weapons and troopsenemy.
2. Potential reception of RES radiation by special equipment concentrated in a zone free from the enemy.
3. Dependence of configuration and regime metamorphoses in electronic technology on the conditions and actions of enemy troops.
4. Presence of signs of RES to calculate their status and belonging to the control system.

Positives

Radio intelligence has the following advantages:

1. The implementation of their functions in any conditions. It does not matter the weather, season, time of day.
2. Ste alth.
3. Working in solid depth.
4. Significant distance from the enemy's RES and the line of combat contact of troops.
5. High speed of getting information.

Negative moments

Weaknesses of electronic intelligence are:

1. Dependence on the intensity of the use of RES by the enemy.
2. Effect of electromagnetic activity on intelligence quality.
3. Potentially receiving false information from the enemy. To do this, his stations give fake signals.

Intelligence information

This definition includes all materials received by specialists of reconnaissance posts due to:

1. Radio interception. Frequencies, radiations, codes, radiograms are caught.
2. Direction finding. The location of intelligence sources is being determined.
3. Analysis. The types and structure of signals are being studied.

Data regarding sources is an internal material base. It reflects the stateand tasks of objects of observation.

Key criteria

Any effective electronic intelligence station must meet the following requirements:

1. Permanent action. Reconnaissance must go on continuously and cover the range of enemy frequencies being studied. Also, the information received must be processed non-stop.
2. Activity. All specialists, shift operators, as well as their superiors must obtain the required information by all means.
3. Dedication. All key activities should focus on the core mission.
4. Timeliness. All data must be mined by a certain time.
5. Reliability of information. This criterion concerns the objectivity of the received data on the number, plans and maneuvers of the enemy. They are being carefully analyzed. The electronic situation is being studied.
6. The accuracy of calculating the position of objects. It can be achieved by highly qualified intelligence officers, the use of innovative methods and equipment.

Process steps

Electronic intelligence systems operate in a certain algorithm. It is formed by 4 stages:

1. Getting data. They are extracted from the RES emissions and ranges of objects. Radio-technical reconnaissance means are actively working here. They form an energetic bond with the source of the emitted signals.
2. Characteristic of radiation. This is a combination of its properties and values obtained through intelligence means. The data is subject to processing. And what contains radiation is information obtained in the processsignal conversion.
3. Collecting information. It is organized by the command. The received materials are selected, prepared and converted into formats that are convenient for use. The purpose of the stage is to transfer accurate data to the processing point in time. The order and type of work and materials are determined by the command. Processes are controlled by special documentation.
4. Processing. Here, the information obtained is described on the basis of the tasks being solved. The process begins with the acquisition of information and ends with its preparation for distribution. Here it is decided where it will follow, that is, its consumers. This may be local authorities or higher military authorities. The formats and timing of the transfer of information, and the lists of consumers are reflected in the instructions of the command. They are also governed by the relevant documentation.

About search

This is one of the two main methods of conducting such reconnaissance (along with observation). Here, the zone of the frequency range and directions is quickly investigated. And the main goal is to calculate the radiation of enemy objects.

Search by:

1. According to frequencies. Calculates the range, detects all active enemy RES, reveals their value.
2. Characteristic features. Valid when they are known. Sources are calculated over the whole range, on its isolated spectra, or at specific frequencies. The duration of work, call signs and other signs are used to identify the source.
3. Direction. The antenna is placed so that it is possible to receive radiation from the RES. To do this, check whether it moves orstation.

About observation

Dedicated operations are carried out here to determine how the states of detected sources and objects change.

There are three categories of surveillance:

1. Solid. Sources are controlled without pauses and all their emissions are intercepted. As a rule, this is 1-2 frequencies per point.
2. Periodic. The areas where the RES are located are controlled and their work is partially intercepted at the moment when the signals contain data that require the implementation of intelligence tasks. The standard for one item is 3-4 frequencies.
3. Control. Its object is a RES with a non-constant data value. In a certain situation, these funds are not key sources. There is no need for prolonged interception of radio transmissions. The main task is to control the RES. Standard for one post: 8-9 frequencies.

Signs: concept and nature

This term refers to the indicators of radiation measured during the study. And their totality is an indicative description of RES.

The number and origin of signs are determined by two factors:

1. physical base. Manifestation of signs always occurs when radiating RESs are operating. They can be used and studied to discover these agents. Signals can be masked, which significantly complicates their study. Two methods appear here:

• The first one unifies the indicators of the signals. This leads to the reduction of many RES values to identity and the need to make them stable duringtime.
• The second one specifically changes the indicators of signals within certain limits and randomly. The effectiveness of the RES does not suffer from this. However, such signals are extremely difficult to recognize.

2. Organizational actions carried out by the intelligence services and their leadership. This work generates signs that help determine the composition and conditions of forces, the managerial hierarchy and the nature of work tasks. A couple of methods also appear here:

• The first powerfully encrypts incoming messages. Therefore, the content of the programs is not achieved by intelligence for a very long time.
• The second masks the activities of the RES and creates fictitious data.

Classification of features

There are two important aspects here:

1. Many features are divided into subgroups that determine their informational interaction. The characteristic features of technologies and RES, as well as the work of intelligence facilities are implied.
2. The nature of the obtained information. This implies signs of numbers, conditions, location of units, posts, as well as the nature of intelligence work.

The following feature classes are also distinguished:

1. Group. Thanks to them, types and classifications of objects stand out.
2. Personal. Separate sources, RES devices, etc. are identified.
3. Leading. Signs precede events that match them.
4. Synchronous. They are identical in time.
5. Lagging. First comes the event, then the sign appears.

Important characteristics for any feature category arestability and information content. The first determines their manifestation during exploration.

The second characterizes their contribution to achieving intelligence goals. According to this criterion, signs are separating:

1. Partly. They ambiguously explain the event corresponding to them.
2. Totally. Give an objective and accurate interpretation of the event.

Domestic potential

The date of the emergence of Russian electronic intelligence is 1904-15-04. Then the Russo-Japanese War was in full swing. During an enemy raid in Port Arthur, two Russian radio stations (from the battleship Pobeda and from the Zolotaya Gora on the Shore) deliberately interfered.

As a result, enemy spotter ships experienced great difficulty in transmitting telegrams. At that time, radio equipment was used more to intercept data than to suppress it.

When the First World War was going on, with the help of radio interference, the communication of enemy armies and ships with their headquarters was disrupted

Until the next World War, the country developed and produced devices for radio monitoring, location and direction finding. In the process of it, Russian troops actively used devices for suppressing enemy transmissions. Reflectors and signal falsifications were also used.

In modern military operations, the effectiveness of electronic intelligence systems is of great importance. New technologies are being developed andobsolete ones are being modernized.

Among the most famous equipment are:

1. Kolchuga radio intelligence station and its modifications.
2. ARS-NB complex.
3. Hardware AR-3000A.
4. Station "Korsar-M".

A Brief History of "Kolchuga"

This is intelligence equipment operating automatically.

Conveyors with it were launched in 1987. The base of the mobile modification was the KrAZ-260 chassis.

In the early 90s. of the last century in the Ukrainian arsenal there were about 20 stations of electronic intelligence "Kolchuga". This made it possible to monitor the radio-electronic space around the country within 300-400 km.

In 2001, a modernized version of "Kolchuga-M" was released. It quickly began to be used for its intended purpose.

Its design is protected by 8 patents and 12 innovative technologies. The most important are microelectronics.

By 2003, 76 such stations were produced. And the following year, their manufacturer received four international awards.

According to statistics, in 2007 there was not a single functioning Kolchuga electronic intelligence complex left in the country.

Technical data

The operation of the equipment is based on tropospheric propagation. The system detects and recognizes ground and air objects. She has many patterns of potential targets stored in her memory. The system itself is extremely difficult to detect. Reason -electronic intelligence "Kolchuga" is passive: no radiation of waves.

There are three stations in the complex. It is characterized by high-precision determination of the coordinate data of targets located on water and land. The lines of their movement also fall under control.

For ground objects, the maximum parameters are:

• 6000 m - depth;
• 10000 m - frontal direction.

Aerial objects are captured at an altitude of 10,000 - 80,000 m.

In a panoramic study, the radio path determines the parameters in the range from 110 to 155 dB/W. Control over constant radiation is carried out on such partial spectra (in MHz):

1. 135-170.
2. 230-470.
3. 750-18000.

The system has a parallel receiver with 36 channels and special electronics. They exclude the appearance of background signals on the air. Simultaneously with this process signals from 200 objects are accompanied.

Corsair-M

This is a mobile station that detects and accompanies the signals of objects in the air.

It can interface with automated RTV systems and control technologies of electronic warfare units.

Other capabilities of the Corsair M electronic intelligence station are as follows:

1. Autonomous use or use in conjunction with passive reconnaissance systems.
2. Operation under temperature conditions from -50 to +55 degrees.
3. Movement on roads of any complexity.

Other complexes

Today there are various developments for electronic intelligence. Here are three popular examples:

First: AR-3000A. This is a hardware-software reconnaissance equipment based on a laptop and a scanner receiver.

This complex includes:

1. Radio.
2. Speed panoramic study block.
3. PC minimum version IBM-PC 386 with VGA video adapter.
4. PO.

Opportunities:

1. Operating range: 25 - 2000 MHz.
2. Conducting a panoramic study within 3 - 2000 MHz.
3. During a panoramic study, the dynamic level of incoming signals is at least dB. At the same time, the sensitivity of the technique reaches 1 μV.
4. Dynamics of a panoramic study 4 MG/s (on the monitor). No picture - 5 MHz/s minimum.

Second complex - ARS-NB. Its functions:

• control of UKS frequencies and cellular communication technologies;
• load frequency band;
• write key data to the hard drive;
• fixation of speech signals.

The complex consists of:

1. Radio AR-3000A.
2. Data input controller from step 1 to the computer.
3. PO.

Third equipment: NP-11S. Performs reconnaissance from a stationary post.

Ingredients:

1. AR-3000A radio receiver with 10.7 MHz IF output section.
2. Static wide range antenna.
3. IBM-PC 386 and VGA monitor.
4. Interface for joining item 3.
5. Sedif software.
6. A cassette player controlled by a scanning receiver.

These are standard equipment.