INVESTMENT COMPONENT
Modernization
Recapitalization
Maintenance
Provides signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection and precision targeting that intercepts, collects, and precisely locates hostile communications intelligence radio frequency emitters and electronic intelligence threat radar emitters. Provides near-real-time info to tactical commanders in the Joint Task Force Area supporting full spectrum of operations (close in & deep look collections).
The Guardrail Common Sensor (GR/CS) is a fixed-wing, airborne, SIGINT collection and precision targeting location system. It provides near-real-time information with emphasis on Indications and Warnings (I&W). It collects low-, mid-, and high-band radio signals and electronic intelligence (ELINT) signals; identifies and classifies them; determines source location; and provides near-real-time reporting, ensuring information dominance to commanders. GR/CS uses a Guardrail Mission Operations Facility (MOF) for the control, data processing, and message center for the system. GR/CS includes:
A standard system has RC-12 aircraft flying operational missions in single ship or multi-ship operations. Up to three aircraft/systems simultaneously collect communications and electronics emitter transmissions and gather lines of bearing and time-difference-of-arrival data, which is transmitted to the MOF, correlated, and supplied to supported commands via NSANet.
Enhancements include precision geo-location subsystem, the Communications High-Accuracy Location Subsystem–Compact (CHALS-C), with increased frequency coverage and a higher probability to collect targets; a modern COMINT infrastructure and core COMINT subsystem, providing a frequency extension, Enhanced Situational Awareness (ESA); a capability to process special high-priority signals through the high-end COMINT subsystems High Band COMINT (HBC) and X-Midas; and elimination of non-supportable hardware and software. Ground processing software and hardware are being upgraded for interoperability with the Distributed Common Ground System–Army (DCGS-A) architecture and Distributed Information Backbone.
None
ACQUISITION PHASE
Technology Development
Engineering & Manufacturing Development
Production & Deployment
Operations & Support
None
System Integrator, ESA Subsystem, and MOF Software/System Support:
Northrop Grumman (Sacramento, CA)
Data Links:
L-3 Communications (Salt Lake City, UT)
CHALS-C:
Lockheed Martin (Owego, NY)
X-MIDAS Subsystem:
ZETA (Fairfax, VA)
HBC Subsystem:
ArgonST Radix, Part of the Boeing Co. (Mountain View, CA)
