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(U) The Evolution of HF
FROM:
Deputy Director for Data Acquisition
Run Date: 07/17/2003
(S//SI) A common misunderstanding, even among SIGINT
professionals, is that "HF is dead." This belief, in part, is based on
the fact that HF is one of the oldest means of communications,
recently celebrating its 100-year anniversary. As newer
technologies, such as satellites and fiber optic cables, were
introduced as alternate means of communicating, it was believed
that the market for HF technologies would disappear. This has not
happened. In fact, the market for HF continues to grow.
(S//SI) Why is this? HF requires no terrestrial or spaceborne
infrastructure to communicate globally and is capable of surviving
the effects of a nuclear blast. HF is a low cost way to communicate
and is often used when other traditional paths are denied to a user
(usually in times of war). For as little as $5000, a state-of-the-art
radio can be purchased that will enable the user to communicate in
voice, send a fax, transmit data computer-to-computer, and even
replicate a "STU" capability at distances of thousands of miles. HF
radios are mobile, rugged, and require minimal manpower and
training to operate-- ideal for use by terrorists and third world
military organizations.
(TS//SI) As the United States was considering its options regarding
a Security Council resolution on Iraq, intelligence derived from HF
collection provided the position and voting intentions of several key
players.
(TS//SI) HF played a major role in tracking
.
(TS//SI) Yet another example of the importance of HF
(TS//SI) During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the importance of having
SERIES:
(U//FOUO) Data
Acquisition
1. Welcome to SID's
Data Acquisition
Directorate
2. The Collection
Strategies and
Requirements Center
3. Digital Network
Exploitation (DNE),
Digital Network
Intelligence (DNI)
and Computer
Network Exploitation
(CNE)
4. The Evolution of HF
5. The New Meade
Operations Center
the ability to collect, geolocate, and process HF communications
was most clearly demonstrated. As part of the planning for this
war, CENTCOM developed a SIGINT herding strategy.
Communications hubs known to be used by Iraqi military were
identified and prioritized. The elimination of these hubs forced the
Iraqis to establish alternate means of communicating. The alternate
means of communicating very often became HF communications
because of the reasons cited above. In this war one of the primary
users of HF was Iraq's Air Defense visual observers (VISOPS)
whose mission was to monitor and report on coalition aircraft overflights and ground troop movements. VISOPS, as well as other air
defense elements and Republican Guard elements, had been noted
using HF communications extensively. Our ground troops leveraged
this information for Indications and Warning (I&W;) and Force
protection. As the war continued, we were well postured to address
increases and trends in Iraqi HF activity.
(U//FOUO) Corporate HF Services (CHS) recently drafted a
strategic plan that outlines the way forward for continued
HF/UHF/VHF sustained collection. The plan calls for substantial
changes to investment in both pay and non-pay. The investment in
HF pay will be dramatically reduced as a result of automation and
changing the way we do business. The investment in non-pay will
increase to allow NSA to automate functions and catch up with
advances in technology. A draft of the plan will soon be available
on the CHS home page .
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108