A picture is worth a thousand words. However, many of those words are followed by question marks that RF data can answer.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) faces a dynamic and evolving threat landscape that demands advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems. Traditional ISR methods are increasingly vulnerable to jamming, and physical destruction. Notus Group introduces GRAB (Geolocational RF Analytical Baseline), an innovative solution integrating passive ground-based antenna networks with passive RF data from space. GRAB is critical for a survivable over-the-horizon Find, Fix, Track, and Target (F2T2) capability, making traditionally exquisite data sets actionable at the operational level.

Why GRAB?

Empowering Operational Levels

Actionable Intelligence: GRAB delivers traditionally exquisite data sets directly to the operational level, enabling frontline commanders and decision-makers to access and act on critical intelligence in real-time, enhancing over-the-horizon F2T2 capabilities.

Operational Ownership: By decentralising access to high-quality ISR data, GRAB ensures that operational units can independently gather, analyse, and act on information, increasing agility and responsiveness.

Comprehensive Coverage and Enhanced Survivability

Passive Ground-Based Antenna Networks: Distributed arrays of passive antennas cover extensive geographical areas, continuously monitoring RF signals without emitting detectable signals. This reduces vulnerability to jamming and interception, ensuring a robust over-the-horizon F2T2 capability.

Passive RF Data from Space: Satellites equipped with passive RF sensors gather and analyse RF emissions from Earth without active transmission, significantly lowering detection and interception risks, enhancing survivability.

Precision and Accuracy with Emitter Fingerprinting

Emitter Fingerprinting and Serialisation: GRAB enables creation of object-based disposition of forces (OBDOF) through more comprehensive tracking and validation of individual RF emitters based on unique characteristics such as frequency and modulation. These fingerprints may then be serialised, allowing precise tracking and analysis of emitter activities to provide a detailed understanding of adversary dispositions and movements critical for F2T2 operations.

Strategic Advantages

Redundancy and Robustness: Integrating ground-based and space-based sensors ensures multiple layers of data collection, maintaining system functionality even if one component is compromised. This distributed architecture enhances resilience against various disruptions, vital for a reliable F2T2 capability.

Data Integrity and Anomaly Detection: By fusing data from diverse sources, GRAB offers a comprehensive and accurate picture of the operational environment. Advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques ensure high data integrity, enabling the detection of unusual or unexpected signals that may indicate potential threats.

Sovereign and Accessible

Survivable and Sovereign-Owned: GRAB is a sovereign-owned system that complements National Technical Means (NTM) while being accessible at lower classifications. This accessibility reduces the restriction of critical data, ensuring that warfighters and decision-makers receive the information they need promptly, which is essential for an effective over-the-horizon F2T2 capability.

Use Cases

Military Operations

Enhance situational awareness with real-time intelligence on enemy movements, communications, and electronic warfare activities. GRAB’s emitter fingerprinting allows for precise tracking of enemy units and their operational patterns, crucial for over-the-horizon F2T2.

Disaster Response

Monitor communication networks and other RF signals to coordinate rescue efforts and assess disaster impact. GRAB’s fingerprinting technology helps identify and track critical communication nodes, streamlining response actions.

Border Security

Ensure continuous monitoring of RF signals along borders to detect unauthorised communications and movements. GRAB’s capability to fingerprint and serialise emitters enables the identification and tracking of specific threats, enhancing border security.

Maritime Surveillance

Improve the monitoring of vessel communications and radar signals to enhance maritime domain awareness. GRAB’s fingerprinting and serialisation capabilities help track individual vessels and understand their behaviour, ensuring maritime security.

Conclusion

Notus Group’s GRAB service revolutionises ISR capabilities for the ADF by making traditionally exquisite data sets actionable at the operational level. By integrating passive ground-based antenna networks with passive RF data from space, GRAB is critical for a survivable over-the-horizon F2T2 capability. This approach offers unparalleled redundancy, robustness, and survivability. The ability to fingerprint and serialise individual emitters further enhances precision in tracking and analysing force dispositions. GRAB ensures resilient and effective situational awareness, empowering the ADF to stay ahead of evolving threats and make informed decisions in diverse operational environments.