SIGINT, ELINT and COMINT
PPM Systems offers a wide range of antennas for many different military applications, including milcom, military satcom, electronic warfare, jamming and surveillance.
Many of these antennas are suitable for SIGINT applications, with a large variety available within our range of Electronic Warfare, Jamming and Surveillance products. The range includes ultra-wideband and low profile antennas, ideal for use in harsh environments.
Antennas for SIGINT applications
There are many classifications of antenna communications and intelligence gathering disciplines. SIGINT, COMINT and ELINT are the main terms used, with key distinctions between the three.
SIGINT
SIGINT is the abbreviation for ‘Signals Intelligence’. The term encompasses all intelligence-gathering methods that involve the interception of signals.
While SIGINT’s origins can be traced back to the early 1900s, it became more prominent in World War I, and even more so in World War II. Among other means of information, SIGINT utilises Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which gather and transmit back raw intelligence for analysis.
COMINT
Communications Intelligence or ‘COMINT’ is a sub-category of SIGINT. COMINT describes communications between people and/or groups. Voice interception, text interception and signalling channel interception are all categorised under COMINT.
COMINT’s main distinction from ELINT is that COMINT signals contain speech or text, whereas ELINT signals do not.
ELINT
Electronic intelligence or ‘ELINT’ is another sub-category of SIGINT, which considers non-communications intelligence-gathering. ELINT systems primarily use electronic signals to gather intelligence. These systems identify signals by either matching them to known criteria or recording them as possible new and unique emitters. ELINT data is usually highly classified and therefore secured.
To discuss specific antenna requirements and get a quote, contact PPM Systems.