Schiebel and IAI Elta demonstrate airborne HF interception and geo location.

Schiebel and Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) subsidiary ELTA Systems Ltd., are preparing to demonstrate the ELK-7065 3D High Frequency (HF) Band COMINT interception and geo-location system installed on the Schiebel CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS (Unmanned Air System) during Q3 2015. The ELK-7065 3D HF COMINT provides quick labelling and identification of HF signals, creating a reliable Electronic Order of Battle (EOB) picture and accurate geolocation.

The revolutionary HF airborne antenna configuration, measuring merely 30 by 50 centimetres, is optimally suited for the CAMCOPTER®. The patented compact HF system is currently going through installation phases.

HF communications play an increasingly significant role for military, para-military and civilian applications. Beyond Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) communications are achieved today through HF radios without the need of using expensive satellite communication, and risk of being intercepted through SATCOM communication servers.

Whether using sky wave propagation or a close range network utilizing ground waves, HF communication is proving to be a practical solution in growing use by contraband smugglers, pirates and terrorists. This fast growing use of HF communication has created increasing interest for HF intelligence systems.

Chris Day, Head of Capability Engineering at Schiebel commented

“The ELK-7065 3D HF COMINT SENSOR integrated with the CAMCOPTER® S-100 system offers a unique, highly flexible capability, able to deliver time critical intelligence in the most complex operational environments.”

Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 is a proven capability for military and civilian applications with more than 200 systems in operational use worldwide. It operates in day and night, under adverse weather conditions, with a beyond line-of-sight capability out to 200 km, both on land and at sea. Installed on the S-100 UAS, with automatic shipborne vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability, the ELK-7065 3D HF COMINT SENSOR can operate autonomously or as part of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) networks in joint operations.

“This pioneering product has been unveiled in the 2013 Paris Air Show and aroused keen interest from multiple customers around the world”, said Mr. Nissim Hadas, IAI Executive VP & ELTA President, “we are pleased to cooperate with an outstanding UAS company such as Schiebel and intend to offer this capability to current and future customers of the UAS for maritime and other applications”.