General Dynamics to upgrade Army AN/MLQ-44A Prophet-Enhanced SIGINT vetronics systems
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., 29 June 2016. Military signals intelligence (SIGINT) experts at General Dynamics Corp. are ready to upgrade combat vehicle SIGINT vetronics system to enhance the system's 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 plans Tuesday to award a sole-source contract to the General Dynamics Mission Systems segment in Scottsdale, Ariz., to upgrade 47 fielded AN/MLQ-44A Prophet-Enhanced SIGINT vetronics systems to the latest AN/MLQ-44B configuration.
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, Army officials say. The value of the upcoming contract has yet to be negotiated.
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.
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.
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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.
For more information contact General Dynamics Mission Systems online at www.gdmissionsystems.com, or the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground at www.army.mil/acc.
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John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
