Man-Portable Comint: US Marines and Special Operations Command Pursue Lightweight Eavesdropping Gear

摘要

Mobile signals-intelligence (SIGINT) systems, particularly man-portable communications-intelligence (COMINT) equipment for ground troops, have come into demand today among major militaries thanks to the force-protection requirements of irregular warfare. The shrinking size of SIGINT receivers, the growing power of signal processors and new antenna designs have reduced the technological challenges of developing man-portable systems that provide sufficient frequency coverage even in the face of jan expanding COMINT target set. Lightweight direction-finding (DF) and COMINT systems for dismounted apptications of conventional and special operations forces (SOF) are desired to detect and locate enemy activity in forward areas. Although many systems are man-portable or team-portable, the ideal remains a man-pack system light enough to be carried and operated by a single soldier.