CRFS, a company specializing in real-time monitoring solutions for RF spectrum, has developed the RFeye ecosystem of products to manage and monitor RF spectrum emissions in military installations and test ranges. The system offers various features like visual data, networking functions, and extra advantages such as aircraft tracking, EMCON monitoring, and drone detection.
Given the importance of military installations and test ranges for training and preparation for the battlefield, it is crucial to monitor and manage the various RF spectrum emissions that are produced by the electronic hardware used in these areas to ensure safety and effective testing.
Monitoring the congested spectrum
The use of RF frequencies on military installations and test ranges has to be carefully managed to ensure that finite spectrum allocations are optimized among installation users and to resolve any potential interference issues. This need is further highlighted by the growth in spectrum sharing, which often requires military users to carry out spectrum deconfliction with commercial users of the same frequency bands. In order to manage the RF spectrum, careful monitoring is needed. This can be performed with a network of extremely sensitive radio receivers, RFeye nodes, and dedicated software. The RFeye system allows the spectrum manager to continuously and autonomously monitor and manage the spectrum from a centralized control point.
Visualize the information not just the spectrum
With the ability to integrate with range/base spectrum schedules (IFDS and Spectrum 21), RFeye systems can see what should be happening when, where, and at what frequency. All this information can be displayed to the spectrum manager as schedules, maps, reports, and spectrum displays. So, if a transmitter is broadcasting at the wrong frequency, at the wrong time, or operating outside of its designated area, this can all be visualized, and the spectrum management team is automatically alerted in real time.
Infinitely scalable to cover national or international borders
The RFeye system can cover a single installation or test range and operate as a stand-alone system. However, it is possible to network individual RFeye networks together to create a “super network” that can cover hundreds or thousands of miles. So, multiple military bases using the same RFeye technology could be performing separate monitoring tasks while a central command also uses the RFeye capabilities to perform ultra-wide area monitoring and geolocations. This capability can be extremely useful for long range tracking of aircraft (both friendly and adversaries), ballistic missile tracking, or monitoring spectrum use over wide areas.
Additional benefits
Aircraft Tracking: The RFeye system has the capability to carry out wide-area aircraft tracking with 3DTDOA. RFeye AirDefense is a wide-area 3D geolocation and intelligence system that can identify and track aircraft while remaining invisible to electronic detection.By utilizing RF technology, passive tracking of hostile aircraft can be achieved, extending the reach beyond radar capabilities. The addition of RFeye AirDefense to situational awareness can prove crucial in both testing and battlespace environments.
EMCON: RF signals are vital for operations and logistics, but those same RF signals can be detected and located by the enemy. Understanding RF emission status ensures both people, equipment, and vehicles are undetectable. Testing this concept on the range before deployment is crucial. The CRFS RFeye solutions have been field-tested and proven to help friendly forces understand just what they might be giving away: how quickly an EM signature can be detected, how long it can be visible, and even how quickly it can be exploited.
Drone and UAS Detection: Drones and UAS pose increasing security and privacy concerns for test ranges and military bases, but the same CRFS system that is used for spectrum monitoring can simultaneously be used for drone and UAS detection. RFeye Drone Defense is a passive RF sensing system that geolocates drone and operator emissions in three dimensions. The system can track multiple drones simultaneously and alert operational and security staff to the confirmed presence of a drone and its location, all in real-time.
Click here to learn more about CRFS's RFeye system.
