Signals intelligence operational platforms by nation Signals intelligence Operational Platforms are employed by nations to collect signals intelligence , which is intelligence - gathering by interception of signals , whether between people ( i . e . , COMINT or communications intelligence ) or between machines ( i . e . , ELINT or electronic intelligence ) , or mixtures of the two . As sensitive information is often encrypted , signals intelligence often involves the use of cryptanalysis . However , traffic analysis — the study of who is signalling whom and in what quantity — can often produce valuable information , even when the messages themselves cannot be decrypted . Ground Platforms . It can be difficult to draw the line between a ground - based SIGINT receiving station , and facilities that have control , coordination , and processing functions in the " bigger picture " of signals intelligence . Many stations , for the countries with stations in many parts of the world , do have both aspects . There are also some that are clearly intercept only . The first signals intelligence platforms were listening stations on the ground . Early tactical stations were in use as early as World War I , but permanent strategic signals intelligence stations were established as world tensions grew before WWII . Arguably , one combined intercept and jamming technique of WWI was the use of shotguns against carrier pigeons , followed by reading the message attached to the bird . While pigeons can probably be safe , other collection techniques may enjoy a resurgence . One specialized technique , originally used in the First World War but again in the Korean War , was interception using ground return from wired telephones . In mountainous terrain , it might again have applications , such as Afghan caves where wire might be run without the danger of free - space interception . Satellite communications generally must be intercepted by large parabolic antennas on the ground , although there are possibilities that aircraft , intelligence satellites , and ships might also intercept . " To receive satellite signals , . . . only parabolic antennas are used . If the parabolic antennas are standing on an open site , it is possible to calculate on the basis of their position , their elevation and their compass ( azimuth ) angle which satellite is being received . This is possible , for example , in Morwenstow ( UK ) , Yakima ( USA ) or Sugar Grove ( USA ) . " . Australia : Ground Platforms . A facility at Geraldton , Western Australia , with Australian and British personnel was built in the 1990s . The British personnel were previously assigned to Hong Kong . It is reported to have four satellite antennas . . . trained on satellites above the Indian Ocean and the Pacific . " According to statements made under oath in the Australian Parliament by an expert , transmissions from civilian telecommunications satellites are intercepted at Geraldton . " Another station , at Pine Gap , was established in 1966 and jointly operated by Australians and Americans . As opposed to many military - only bases , Pine Gap has a significant number of CIA as well as military NAVSECGRU staff . It has 18 antennas , and has been considered first a receiving station for SIGINT satellites , but the size of some of its antennas are more associated with a requirement to intercept communications from commercial communications satellites . The station in Pine Gap was established in 1966 . It is run by the Australian Defence Signals Directorate , and roughly half of the 900 station personnel are Americans from the CIA and " Until 1980 no Australians were allowed to work in the signals analysis department ; since then , they have been granted free access to all parts of the station , with the exception of the Americans ’ own cryptography room . " The European Parliament report stated that the Shoal Bay facility is " run solely by the Australian Intelligence Service . Of the satellite antennas visible on photographs , the five larger ones have a maximum diameter of 8 m , and the sixth antenna visible is smaller still . According to information provided by Richelson , the antennas are trained on the Indonesian PALAPA satellites . It is not clear whether the station is part of the global system for the interception of civilian communications . " Cuba : Ground Platforms . While Cuba had traditionally been a Soviet client , it both has been developing indigenous capabilities , including equipment design and manufacture , as well as having Chinese - operated stations on its soil . Within the Cuban intelligence ministry , a Counter - Electronic Warfare Department was established in 1997 , at the same level as the Technical Department and the Foreign Intelligence ) Department . In 1992 , a tactically oriented Counter - Electronic Warfare Department was created . The national intelligence organization also runs electronic warfare and SIGINT for the Air Force and Navy . Russia and China , at various times , have operated or are operating intercept stations in Cuba . The largest and best - known , Lourdes SIGINT Station , was shut down by Russia in 2001 , along with the Russian station at Cam Ranh Bay , Vietnam . Of the additional bases are in Cuba , two of which are operated by China : Chinese personnel , in 1998 , began operating the Bejucal and Santiago de Cuba facilities . The first seems concerned with intercepting US telephone communications and data traffic , while the second appears aimed at US military satellites One is a large complex at Bejucal , just south of Havana , which has ten SATCOM antennas , and which is primarily concerned with intercepting telephone communications in the US . A ' cyber - warfare ' unit at the station focuses on computer data traffic . The second is located northeast of Santiago de Cuba at the easternmost part of the country and is ' dedicated mainly to intercepting U . S . military satellite communications ' . France : Ground Platforms . France : Strategic Ground Platforms . The technical department of the French espionage service , DGSE , operates a major communications satellite collection site at Domme , in the Dordogne valley to the east of Bordeaux , in south - western France . This site , which includes at least 11 collection antennas , seven of them directed at Atlantic satellites , is clearly as extensive and capable as the largest sites in the UKUSA network . Reports by journalists , cited in the European Parliament report , confirm the Domme installation , and also a facility at Alluetts - le - Roi near Paris . There were also reports of stations in Kourou in French Guyana and in Mayotte . France : Tactical Ground Platforms . At the tactical force protection levels , Thales was awarded a contract to build SAEC ( Station d ' Appui Electronique de Contact ) force protection stations , by the French defence procurement agency ( DGA ) . The contract was awarded in 2004 and initial operational capability is expected by 2007 . The SAEC is an armored vehicle carrying ELINT and the Thales XPLORER COMINT to complement EW platforms . It will have wideband acquisition , direction - finding and analysis sensors , for real - time monitoring and recording for subsequent analysis . It can operate standalone , or network using VHF ( PR4G ) and HF ( TRC3700 ) communication systems for networking with other SAEC and the SGEA higher level EW system . SGEA will do intelligence fusion , including from UAV - carried sensor , and coordinate with electronic attack . Germany : Ground Platforms . Germany : Strategic Ground Platforms . Germany operates a strategic ground station at the Kommando Strategische Aufklärung ( Strategic Reconnaissance Command ) of the Bundeswehr , in Gelsdorf , which is responsible for controlling Germany ' s SAR Lupe system and analysing the retrieved data . A large data archive of images will be kept in a former Cold War bunker . The Bundesnachrichtendienst , Germany ' s foreign intelligence service , also operates several SIGINT platforms . Germany : Tactical Ground Platforms . Germany operates several tactical ground platforms for SIGINT gathering . The " Kommando Strategische Aufklärung " ( Strategic Reconnaissance Command ) of the Bundeswehr operates three mobile and three stationary SIGNIT battalions . Russia : Ground Platforms . Russia : Strategic Ground Platforms . Russia closed its major ground collection stations at Lourdes in Cuba and Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam . Stations remain at the Ras Karma Military Airbase , near QaDub on Socotra Island in Yemen , across the Red Sea to Somalia , and at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean . An inactive station at Ramona in North Korea may reopen . Russia : Tactical Ground Platforms . Arbalet - M is mentioned in Russian literature as a portable direction - finding and electronic attack system United Kingdom : Ground Platforms . United Kingdom Strategic Ground Platforms . Journalist Duncan Campbell alleges that Ayios Nikolaos Station on Cyprus is a British SigInt collection installation . He further alleges that GCHQ Bude in Cornwall is also a SigInt collection system associated with the Echelon network . United States : Ground Platforms . That TENCAP and TIARA complement one another , and benefit tactical and strategic units . United States : Strategic Ground Platforms . NSA , with NRO cooperation , operates a number of Regional SIGINT Operations Sites ( RSOC ) and other support activities . The Marine units report National SIGINT Operations Center at NSA headquarters at Ft . Meade , MD . These facilities often have both a SIGINT receiving and a higher - level management and control function . Jeffrey Richelson , for the George Washington University National Security Archive , links the Air Force ' s 544th Intelligence Group with ECHELON operations . He places its Detachment 2 located at Sabana Seca , Puerto Rico ; Detachment 3 at Sugar Grove , West Virginia ; and Detachment 4 at Yakima , Washington . In the 1994 Air Intelligence Agency ( AIA ) history , Misawa is specifically associated with ECHELON only in the context of a collection system called LADYLOVE . Misawa , although many of its SIGINT units were deactivated in 2000 - 2001 , still had an RSOC coordination role . The AIA history says the " Misawa LADYLOVE activity was initiated during the Cold War to intercept Soviet military communications transmitted via satellite — along with similar operations at Menwith Hill , UK ; Bad Aibling , Germany ; and Rosman , North Carolina . " According to Duncan Campbell , " In 1999 , the Sabana Seca field station appeared to have at least four radomes for satellite communications , one located beside an existing high frequency interception system targeted on Cuban radio communications . " According to Richelson , this is the assignment of Detachment 2 of the 544th Intelligence Group . The Naval Security Group Activity ( NAVSECGRUACT ) at Sugar Grove , West Virginia , has missions defined including " maintaining and operating an ECHELON site " . Detachment 3 of the US Air Force 544th Intelligence Group is a tenant at Sugar Grove , and the 544th has been associated with ECHELON activities . While the main subordinate command at Sugar Grove is redacted , it would appear , given the presence of large satellite antennas at Sugar Grove , but it not appearing in lists of NSOCs , that it is principally an intercept facility . Campbell associates Sugar Grove with NSA programs called TIMBERLINE , LANFORD , LATERAL , and SALUTE . The Yakima site , home of Detachment 4 of the 544th , is considered an ECHELON site : " Six satellite antennas have been installed on the site [ they are claimed to be ] trained on INTELSAT satellites over the Pacific ( two satellite antennas ) and INTELSAT satellites over the Atlantic , and on INMARSAT Satellite 2 . " The fact that Yakima was established at the same time as the first generation of INTELSAT satellites went into orbit , and the general description of the tasks of the 544th Intelligence Group , suggest that the station has a role in global communications surveillance . A further clue is provided by Yakima ’ s proximity to a normal satellite receiving station , which lies to the north . " United States : Tactical Ground Systems . Some systems are used at land stations of all services . AN / TSQ - 190 ( V ) TROJAN SPIRIT II ( TS II ) is a mobile SHF satellite communications ( SATCOM ) system that uses commercial or military satellites to receive , transmit , and process secure , voice , data , video teleconferencing ( VTC ) , and facsimile communications . It provides 14 channels of digital voice or data , to intelligence ( SCI ) or general military ( GENSER ) with a maximum aggregate data rate of 1 . 544 megabits per second ( Mbit / s ) . LAN communications are supported by SCI and GENSER ethernets . Routers provide access to the SIPRNET , JWICS , NSA networks , and the defense SATCOM system , as needed for coordinating MAGTF SIGINT and other intelligence operations . The system fits into 3 HMMWVs with mounted standard integrated command postlightweight multipurpose shelters , tunnel - mounted power generation units , and towed 2 . 4 meter ( C , Kuband ) and 6 . 1 meter ( C , Ku , X - band ) antennas . TROJAN SPIRIT II is being replaced by AN / TSQ - 226 ( V ) TROJAN SPIRIT LITE . The TROJAN SPIRIT LITE is fielded in three versions : Both TROJAN SPIRIT II and TROJAN SPIRIT LITE will transition to the Warfighter Information Network - Terrestrial ( WIN - T ) . US Army : Tactical Ground Stations . While some may call " Transformation of the United States Army " a " buzzword " , the idea reflects some very major changes . Among the most basic is moving away from the Division as the fundamental unit of action , and moving to smaller and more flexible Brigade combat team s ( BCT ) . As a very basic part of those changes , not only are considerably more intelligence assets being assigned to the BCTs , but to larger army formations . In both these cases , SIGINT represents a very major portion of the growth in assets . Each combat BCT has an organic military intelligence ( MI ) company , with improved SIGINT capability . In addition , five battlefield surveillance brigades ( BfSB ) , of which an MI Collection Battalion is the core element , are being formed . Each of those battalions is 1 / 3 SIGINT ; the Army expects to have more than 7 , 000 new MI soldiers by 2013 . Prophet Block I began rolling out in 1999 - 2000 , and was operational in Afghanistan . It replaced the AN / TSQ - 138 Trailblazer , AN / TRQ - 32 Teammate , AN / TLQ - 17A Trafficjam , and the AN / PRD - 12 systems . The system will be getting incremental improvements , which reflect both improvements in technology and in military organizational structure . At the time of initial operational capability , the assumption was that PROPHET would be issued six systems per division , four per armored cavalry regiment ( ACR ) , three per Initial Brigade Combat Team ( IBCT ) . Tasking for Prophet will come from primarily from the division - level Analysis and Control Element , modified by brigade - specific priorities and then send them to the Prophet via SINCGARS radio . Physically , the basic Prophet platform is built around a mounted AN / PRD - 13 ( V ) 2 direction - finding ( DF ) system designed to provide force protection in a DS role to the maneuver brigade . This system operates in the HF , VHF and UHF spectra . It provides line - of - bearing ( LOB ) data and intercept on unencrypted , single - channel push - to - talk transmissions . It can be put into subassemblies that can be carried by a four - man team individual soldiers , althouth the more common deployment will be in an M1097 HMMWV . In the vehicle - mounted variant , it can operate while moving ; the vehicle also has racks for two AN / VRC - 92 SINCGARS Combat Net Radios with backpacks , and carries an antenna mast and other equipment . Tactical communications , not just for SIGINT , are " flattening " , such that units do not just report up their chain of command , but to adjacent units . One of the rationales for doing so is that a combat unit can see an opportunity and move against it , without it being misidentified by a neighboring unit and being engaged with " friendly fire . " Prophet Block II adds electronic attack ( EA ) capability to Prophet , while Block III upgrades the Prophet receiver to collect against advanced and special signals . These enhancements will be coordinated with UAVs and tactical aircraft with expanded SIGINT capability . Blocks IV ( expected IOC 2008 ) and V ( expected IOC 2015 ) add MASINT along with micro - and robotic receivers to the Prophet Ground system . MASINT will include ground surveillance radars ( PPSSD ) and the Improved — Remotely Monitored Battlefield Sensor System ( I - REMBASS ) aboard a shelter - mounted HMMWV . Prophet , with the I - REMBASS monitoring system , will form the Ground Sensor Platoon of the brigade combat team Reconnaissance , Surveillance , and Target Acquisition ( RSTA ) Squadron . Prophet Air will begin in a UAV . For SIGINT operations , the basic US Marine augmentation to Force Recon is a 6 - man detachment from a Radio Reconnaissance Platoon . There is a SIGINT platoon within the Intelligence Company of the new Marine Special Operations Support Group Army Special Forces have the Special Operations Team - Alpha that can operate with an SF team , or independently . This is a low - level collection team , which typically has four personnel . Their primary equipment is the AN / PRD - 13 SOF SIGINT Manpack System ( SSMS ) , with capabilities including direction - finding capability from 2 MHz to 2 GHz , and monitoring from 1 to 1400 MHz . US Marine Corps : Tactical Ground Stations . Subordinate to Radio Battalions , US Marines have a multifunction AN / MLQ - 36 Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System that gives the operators limited armor protection . It contains The AN / PRD - 12 is a tactical , man - transportable system that provides search , intercept , and DF on communications signals in the HF / VHF / UHF bands . Up to four PRD - 12 stations can be networked , providing DF data to a mission control station via radio link with single - channel ground and airborne radio system ( SINCGARS ) equipment . Any of the four stations can act as mission control . Assigned 1 per Marine Division , 1 per Marine Air Wing , and one per Radio Battalion , the AN / MSC - 63A is a shelterized communications switch that provides a secure semiautomated data communications switch and terminals for the processing of general service ( GENSER ) or defense special security communications system ( DSSCS ) sensitive compartmented information ( SCI ) record message traffic . The AN / TSQ - 130 ( V ) 2 / ( V ) 5 technical control and analysis center ( TCAC ) is a tactical , transportable , SIGINT - processing , analysis and reporting system installed in a large , selfcontained , modified S - 280G shelter . TCAC is the primary system used by the Radio Battalion SIGINT support unit . The ( V ) 2 is the baseline system , while the ( V ) 5 has upgraded communications capabilities . It is to be replaced by the AN / MYQ - 8 TCAC - PIP will replace the TCAC . AN / MYQ - 8 will consist of three remoteable analysis workstations ( RAWSs ) , one communications interface module ( CIM ) , and one supervisor control module ( SCM ) . Remoteable Analysis Workstations ( RAWS ) provides the capability to do analysis and reporting in or away from the shelter , connecting via LAN or radio in the latter case . It also can operate in a stand - alone mode . Communications Interface Modules ( CIM ) provide man - machine interface between the TCAC PIP and other RadBn systems ( e . g . , team portable collection system , mobile electronic warfare support system ) or external intelligence agencies . The Supervisor Control Module ( SCM ) is an administrator interface to file server and system supervision of the TCAC . The AN / USC - 55 commander ’ s tactical terminal ( CTT ) is a multiservice - developed , special application , UHF satellite communications receiver that can be dedicated to receive critical , timesensitive intelligence by commanders and intelligence centers at all echelons , in near - real - time , at GENSER or SCI levels . The receiver provides one full - duplex and two receive - only channels . The team portable collection system ( TPCS ) upgrade is a semiautomated , man - transportable communications intelligence ( COMINT ) system . It provides intercept , collection , radio direction finding , analysis , reporting , and collection management support . T The TPCS upgrade made up of three subsystems : Intended for the Radio Reconnaissance Teams attached to Marine Expeditionary Units , the radio reconnaissance equipment program ( RREP ) SIGINT suite ( SS ) - 1 is a semiautomated , integrated , open architecture radio intercept and DF system composed of a ruggedized computer and six functional modules that plug together . RREP SS - 1 modules may operate independently or semi - independently . SS - 1 enables the radio reconnaissance teams ( RRTs ) to target the majority of low - level , single - channel , unencrypted tactical signals of interest used by military , police , insurgents , and other potential hostile forces throughout the world . The RREP SS - 2 will provide a highly deployable , man - transportable , signals intercept and DF system employed by RRTs in support of the entire spectrum of MAGTF operations . RREP SS - 2 employs advanced receiver capabilities , cellular phone and other digital communications collection and DF technology , global positioning system map navigation software , a more modular design , and electronic attack capabilities . As with RREP SS - 1 , the SS - 2 operates at the modular level and at the integrated system level . The system can be controlled manually or via subcompact personal computer . The handheld integrated directional receiver and homing ( HIDRAH ) system is a man - transportable , tactical , cordless , radio intercept and signal line - of - bearing ( LOB ) DF system consisting of several COTS items in an enclosure appropriate for the field . HIDRAH provides RRTs with a threat I & W capability during radio reconnaissance foot - mobile patrols and signal homing support for tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel operations . The HIDRAH system has a unique design that may be employed independently in a handheld manner or by mounting it to an M16 rifle . US Army and Marines : Tactical Ground Stations . An improved version of the AN / MLQ - 36 , used by the Army and Marines , is a multifunction , open - architecture AN / MLQ - 36A Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System Product Improvement Program , which is a total replacement of the electronics in the AN / MLQ - 36 . The MEWSS PIP provides the ability to detect and evaluate enemy communications emissions , detect and categorize enemy noncommunications emissions ( i . e . , battlefield radars ) , determine Lines - of - Bearing ( LOBs ) , and degrade enemy tactical radio communications during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore . When mission configured , and working cooperatively with other MEWSS PIP platforms , the common suite of equipment can also provide precision location of battlefield emitters . The system is designed to have an automated tasking and reporting data link to other MAGTF assets such as the AN / TSQ - 130 Technical Control and Analysis Center ( TCAC ) PIP . The MEWSS PIP and future enhancements will provide the capability to exploit new and sophisticated enemy electronic emissions and conduct Electronic Attack ( EA ) in support of existing and planned national , theater , Fleet , and MAGTF SIGINT / EW operations . Ship Platforms . Ad hoc installations were placed on US warships in the 1940 on . Modern ship installations generally involve intercept stations in mobile vans , which can be put onto the deck of a warship , although some nations , such as Russia and Spain , use essentially unarmed modified fishing vessels . There is a high level of interoperability among NATO vessels , using the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System ( JTIDS ) . While not all ships have sufficiently secure areas for all - source ( i . e . , including SIGINT ) intelligence sensors , commanders with access to all - source information can distribute appropriate parts to units under their command . China : Ship Platforms . China operates at least 10 AGI - type vessels . Denmark : Ship Platforms . Denmark can field one containerised SIGINT / ELINT component , to be fitted in its FLYVEFISKEN class patrol - crafts France : Ship Platforms . France has operated several generations of SIGINT ships , but is moving to its first purpose - built vessel as the third generation . The first , a German cargo ship built in 1958 by a shipyard in Bremen , was transformed in France into an electronic eavesdropping ship between 1976 and 1977 . Decommissioned in May 1999 , the next generation was a former supply ship used since 1988 by the Nuclear Experiments Department for the Pacific Tests Centre ( CEP ) , the " Bougainville " . For its new mission , it was equipped with SIGINT sensors and a Syracuse II satellite communication system , and has been operating since July 1999 . It carried out significant missions in the Indian Ocean following the 9 / 11 / 2001 attacks . On 14 January 2002 , the French Ministry of Defense launched a new purpose - built " Intelligence Gathering Auxiliary " ship project called MINREM , and will be named the Dupuy - de - Lôme . This vessel entered service in 2006 , to replace " Bougainville " . Thales is providing the electronics , and Compagnie Nationale de Navigation is building the ship , to requirements defined by the Military Intelligence Directorate ( DRM ) . with a planned 30 year lifetime . Thales is assigning overall systems and COMINT to its Thales Communication division , while Thales Systèmes Aéroportés will do the ELINT . Germany : Ship Platforms . The German Navy operates the Oste class fleet service ship s which are purpose built SIGINT and ELINT reconnaissance ships . Also other Navy vessels , such as the Bremen class frigate s , Brandenburg class frigate s , Sachsen class frigate s and Braunschweig class corvette s are equipped with extensive SIGINT / ELINT gear . Norway : Ship Platforms . Norway uses the F / S Marjata , a purpose - built electronic intelligence ( ELINT ) collection vessel . Russia : Ship Platforms . Before and after the breakup of the USSR , the Russian Navy operated a large number of AGI ( Auxiliary General Intelligence ) intelligence collection " trawlers " . such as the Primor ' ye class In 1980 the Soviets built a group of more sophisticated purpose built vessels , such as the Balzam class intelligence ship s and Vishnaya class intelligence ship s , which are operated by the Russian navy today . Spain : Ship Platforms . Spain has been reported to have acquired an ex - East German AGI , which it may operate in cooperation with its SIGINT aircraft . The vessel concerned is the 1 , 900 ton renamed " Alerta " , In East German service , she had extensive antennas and a large radome . Based in Cartagena , the SIGINT work is reportedly by two Israeli companies and a Spanish firm . A different source says that the SIGINT equipment is Russian . A Saturn 35 satellite antenna has been , according to Spanish sources , added . Sweden : Ship Platforms . Sweden operates the HMS Orion and plans to rebuild the HMS Carlskrona as a SIGINT ship . United States : Ship Platforms . After two international incidents , US doctrine is to conduct ship - based SIGINT missions with warships , which can protect themselves as the " Pueblo " and " Liberty " could not . The Gulf of Tonkin incident , in 1964 , involved two - destroyer DESOTO patrols equipped with intercept vans , backed up with carrier air patrols . Why this level of protection was not available in 1967 is difficult to understand . One exception , the SIGINT auxiliary USS Sphinx ( ARL - 24 ) , generally stayed off the Nicaraguan coast . Current USN warships carry some version of the AN / SLQ - 32 electronic warfare system , which has ESM capabilities . In addition to the AN / SLQ - 32 , Arleigh Burke class destroyer s are in the process of evaluating an open - architecture Integrated Radar / Optical Sighting and Surveillance System ( IROS3 ) and Ship Protection system , currently including an AN / SPS - 73 radar , an electro - optical / infrared sensor , acoustic sensors and spotlights , coupled with remotely controlled machine guns . Standardized USN systems go beyond simple direction finding and into COMINT . The AN / SLR - 25 is a passive cryptologic exploitation system principally for tactical use , but that can make contributions to higher levels of intelligence . The SLR - 25 ( V ) 1 Advanced Cryptologic Carry - on Exploitation System ( ACCES ) is a portable version of the SLR - 25 ( V ) 2 SSEE ( Ship Signal Exploitation Equipment ) without dedicated SIGINT spaces . Coupled with an AN / SSQ - 120 Transportable Radio Direction - Finding system , the ACCES provides a complete SIGINT collection system . The AN / SSQ - 120 has HF , VHF , and UHF antennas and direction - finding logic . More capable than the AN / SLR - 25 with AN / SSQ - 120 is the AN / SSQ - 137 Ship Signal Exploitation System , an open - architecture system for command & control as well as intelligence . Submarine Platforms . Submarines are the original stealth platforms . When no more than a mast breaks the surface , they immediately become radar targets , so virtually all modern submarines will have the minimum ELINT of a radar warning receiver . Far beyond that , however , many submarines will penetrate hostile areas , raise SIGINT receiver masts , usually with some type of radar - observant covering , and listen . Especially sophisticated SIGINT submarines may tap undersea cables . The minimum radar - warning receiver is usually a set of spiral antennas , backed with resonant cavities , whose amplitude can be compared to determine the direction of greatest signal strength . To go to the next level of sophistication , phase is considered as well as amplitude , and interferometry adds further information . Australia : Submarine Platforms . Australia ' s Collins class has a SIGINT mission , emphasized when the vessels ' combat system was replaced with an open - architecture surveillance system . Among the systems are the ArgoSystems / Condor AR - 740 . Canada : Submarine Platforms . Canada ' s acquisition of reconditioned British diesel - electric submarines ( ex - Upholder class , now Victoria - class submarine ) raised eyebrows of many analysts , wondering how these could have a strategic effect given the strength of Canada ' s southern neighbour ' s undersea strength . Writing in the " Canadian Military Journal " , an officer of Canada ' s maritime forces gave some subtle insights , of which submarine intelligence capabilities play a significant role . " However , submarines also have a contribution to make in deterring and countering the asymmetric threats that now preoccupy Canadian / US ( CANUS ) planners . This is centered upon Intelligence - gathering , Surveillance , and Reconnaissance ( ISR ) activities . . . possession of submarines admits Canada to that exclusive group of states participating in regulated and highly classified submarine waterspace management and intelligence - sharing schemes . The intention to re - establish a Pacific submarine presence led to the immediate cooperation of the United States in development of a west coast Waterspace Management Agreement with Canada , whereas none existed previously . Likewise , Arctic transits and deployments by allied submarines are generally first signalled when Canada ' s Atlantic Submarine Operating Authority is advised of foreign submarine movement across 70 degrees North latitude . Taken together , these various factors result in a capability of strategic importance in so much as it exponentially expands the range of coercive options available to decision - makers . " As part of the upgrade of the Upholder - class submarine purchased from the UK , the Litton Marine Guardian Star is on the Victoria - class submarines . Chile : Submarine Platforms . An ARGOsystems / Condor AR - 900 is aboard the French - built Chilean Scorpene - class submarines . China : Submarine Platforms . Israeli Elbit provides the TIMNEX 4 CH ELINT / targeting set , which covers 2 – 18 GHz , provides radar warning , and 1 . 4 to 5 degree DF ( depending on frequency ) . Denmark : Submarine Platforms . Danish subs have the UK Racal / Thales Sea Lion precision DF system . Egypt : Submarine Platforms . Egyptian submarines use ArgoSystems / Condor AR - 700 series SIGINT for targeting their Harpoon missiles . France : Submarine Platforms . Older French export submarines came with the Thales / Thompson - CSF X - band radar warning system , which is a manual analog system . The digital replacement , in French service , is the ARUR - 13 . It is reasonable to expect continuing upgrades from the EADS consortium . Germany : Submarine Platforms . German submarines use multiple SIGINT systems . Most basic is the DR3000U , although the Type 206 submarine s replaced it with the Ginny . The newer Type 212 submarine s use FL 1800U units made by the German - French EADS consortium . These units use four spiral antennas and a radar warning receiver under a common dome , with the ELINT function covering 0 . 5 – 18 GHz in five bands . This can achieve 5 - degree direction finding . EADS ( formerly DASA ) also equips German submarines with the Telegon 12 HF interception and DF suite . Greece : Submarine Platforms . Greece uses the ArgoSystems / Condor AR - 700 series of submarine ELINT / ESM for targeting Harpoon missiles . Italy : Submarine Platforms . Older submarines use an Elettronica BLD - 727 DF , but the newer Type 212s will use German SIGINT . Israel : Submarine Platforms . German - built Dolphin submarines in Israeli service have several missions , SIGINT being one of them . Domestic Elbit makes the TIMNEX 4 CH ELINT / targeting set , which covers 2 – 18 GHz , provides radar warning , and 1 . 4 to 5 degree DF ( depending on frequency ) . Netherlands : Submarine Platforms . For Harpoon targeting , the Netherlands uses the ArgoSystems / Condor AR - 700 series SIGINT . Russia : Submarine Platforms . Akula and Oscar attack submarine have Rim Hat ( NATO designation ) Nakat - M SIGINT , which is integrated with a Snoop Pair search radar . Kilo export diesel - electric submarines have the NATO Squid Head / MRM - 25 ESM , which includes IFF . South Africa : Submarine Platforms . The domestic Avitronics firm installs the Shrike ESM system , covering 2 – 18 GHz , as does the Israeli Elbit TIMNEX 4 CH ELINT / targeting set , which provides radar warning , and 1 . 4 to 5 degree DF ( depending on frequency ) . The CelsiusTech - Grintek Ewation partnership probably will provide systems as well . South Korea : Submarine Platforms . These have GTE / Israeli SIGINT . Spain : Submarine Platforms . Spanish boats have the domestically produced Indra BLQ - 355 , which may have been exported . With its participation in the EADS consortium , Spain obtains access to new technologies . Spain appears to be developing a coordinated SIGINT approach using submarine , ship , and aircraft platforms . Sweden : Submarine Platforms . Sweden uses the ArgoSystems / Condor AR - 700 series SIGINT . Taiwan : Submarine Platforms . Israeli Elbit provides the TIMNEX 4 CH ELINT / targeting set , which covers 2 – 18 GHz , provides radar warning , and 1 . 4 to 5 degree DF ( depending on frequency ) . United Kingdom : Submarine Platforms . EADS ( formerly DASA ) also equips British submarines with the CXA ( 2 ) HF interception and DF suite . Several submarines have a COMINT system made by US Southwest Research , under the US code name CLUSTER SENTINEL . Author Sherry Sontag asserted in that British submarines have been involved in collaborative SigInt collection since the 1950s . United States : Submarine Platforms . Under the code names HOLYSTONE , PINNACLE , BOLLARD , and BARNACLE , began in 1959 , US submarines infiltrated Soviet harbors to tap communications cables and gather SIGINT . They also had a MASINT mission against Soviet submarines and missiles . The program , which went through several generations , ended when compromised , by Ronald Pelton , in 1981 . US submarines infiltrated the territorial waters of potential opponents to raise low - observability antennas and collect radio SIGINT US . submarines made extensive clandestine patrols to measure the signatures of Soviet submarines and surface vessels . Various submarines , including the " USS Parche " and " USS Halibut " , from the early seventies onwards , reportedly tapped Soviet copper and optical undersea cables , using divers , probes from the main vessel , or remotely operated vehicles . While the Sturgeon class submarine s have been retired , as with any class of submarines , their design had tradeoffs . Sturgeons were more optimized for reconnaissance than the subsequent Los Angeles class , which have greater speed , but less internal space , and optimized for blue water , principally antisubmarine , missions . They used the AN / WLQ - 4 " Sea Nymph " SIGINT system , which may have been too large to fit the Los Angeles class . ( Some Sturgeon class submarines such as the Gurnard ( SSN - 662 ) were fitted with the An / WLR - 6 and AN / BRD - 7 Systems in the late 1960s . ) The Sturgeon class submarine " Parche " ( SSN - 683 ) received an addition hull extension containing " research and development equipment " that brought her total length to . Of the three - vessel " Seawolf " class , the " Jimmy Carter " also is of extended length for intelligence systems and special operations . Seawolf and Los Angeles classes were directed at a Soviet threat , so the newer Virginia class has additional capabilities for the littoral environment . Los Angeles class submarines have modernized and smaller ELINT , the AN / WLR - 18 " Classic Salmon " for lower frequencies and the AN / WSQ - 5 " Cluster Spectator " for higher frequencies . The latter is in a series of code names suggesting it is for tactical use , while the former name is more associated with strategic systems , especially for intelligence . Newer submarines have an AN / WLR - 8 radar signal analyzer and an AN / WLR - 10 ( or AN / BLR - 15 ) radar warning receiver . There are variants , among the classes , of a radar antenna , interferometric direction finder , COMINT receiver . All US submarines , as new construction on the Virginia class submarine s and retrofitted to the Improved Los Angeles class submarine s and possibly Seawolfs , will receive an upgraded Electronic Support suite , designed as a minimally manned , passive receiving system capable of detection , acquisition , identification , and localization of a variety of signals of interest . ES contains the AN / BLQ - 10 SIGINT system , which gives detection , emitter location and MASINT identification , direction finding , and strategic intelligence support . It was first implemented in 2000 and should be in all US submarines by 2012 . ES is not limited to the AN / BLQ - 10 alone , but a major improvement in receiving , with an expected 200 % improvement in performance with the Type 18I periscope and Integrated Electronics Mast ( IEM ) , especially in the littorals . Completing the current ES concept is the AN / ULR - 21 CLASSIC TROLL system that increases the probability of SIGINT intercept by 500 % , supporting tactical and national requirements . Aircraft Platforms . A wide range of aircraft were used with low - tech aircraft such as the WWII [ B - 24 ] with temporarily mounted electronics , to platforms extensively modified for the mission , and evolved to strategic RC - 135 and EP - 3E Aries II aircraft . Argentina : Aircraft Platforms . After its experience in the Falklands , Argentina had a 707 converted to an ELINT aircraft by Israel . Australia : Aircraft Platforms . Australia has ordered the Wedgetail 737 AWACS from a Boeing - led team . The 18 AP - 3C Orion were upgraded to included fitting each aircraft with a new Elta EL / M - 2022 ( V ) 3 radar , a nose - mounted Star Safire III electro - optical and infrared system , " highly capable " signals and electronic intelligence ( SIGINT / ELINT ) equipment , the UYS 503 acoustic system , a new automatic information system processor , a new navigation system based on two Honeywell H764G Embedded GPS / INUs , a new communications system and other improvements . Chile : Aircraft Platforms . Chile has a full Israeli Phalcon system on a single 707 airframe . This system provides SIGINT as well as airborne radar warning and control . China : Aircraft Platforms . Prof . Desmont Ball identified Chinese the first major airborne SIGINT platforms as the four - turboprop EY - 8 , a variant of the Russian An - 12 ' Cub ' as China ' s main ELINT and reconnaissance aircraft a decade ago . EY - 8 construction may be continuing for ELINT / SIGINT and electronic warfare missions . This capability , however , is much inferior to the Japanese equivalents . They were supplemented or replaced four locally modified Tu - 154Ms , comparable to the Russian 1980s vintage Il - 20 ELINT aircraft . France : Aircraft Platforms . France operates the C - 160 aircraft twin - turboprop tactical transport , due to be replaced by the C - 160 by the Airbus Military A400M transport when that enters service from 2009 . The French Air Force will begin retiring its fleet of C - 160 transports in 2005 . Gabriel SIGINT versions of the Transall are an upgraded electronic surveillance version in service with the French Air Force , which also operates four Astarte strategic communications relay versions . Thales developed the signals intelligence ( SIGINT ) system for which there are 10 workstations in the main cabin . C - 160 fleets of France , Germany and Turkey will be replaced by the Airbus Military A400M transport when that enters service from 2009 . The French Air Force will begin retiring its fleet of C - 160 transports in 2005 . Originally manufactured by the companies MBB , Nord Aviation and VFW formed the Transall group in 1959 for the development and production of the C - 160 for the air forces of France , Germany , South Africa and Turkey . Production of the aircraft by the three companies ended in 1972 , with 169 aircraft having been delivered . In 1976 , responsibility for production of the aircraft was given to Aerospatiale in France and MBB ( now DaimlerChrysler Aerospace ) in Germany . Both companies are now part of EADS ( European Aeronautics Defence and Space ) . Production of the aircraft from 1976 to 1985 included updated avionics , a reinforced wing housing and additional fuel tanks . French Transalls were upgraded in 1999 , with a new head - up display and an upgraded electronic warfare suite , with a radar warning receiver , missile approach warner and chaff and decoy dispensers . Navigational systems include EFIS 854 TF Electronic Flight Instrumentation System , which includes an Electronic Attitude Director Indicator ( EADI ) and Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator ( EHSI ) . Three new sensors have been installed for aircraft position and attitude control : an inertial reference unit ( IRU ) , an attitude and heading reference unit ( AHRU ) , and a global positioning system ( GPS ) . A flight management system with two Gemini 10 computers and a new radio management system have also been installed . The Transalls provided NATO SIGINT in Bosnia . For a number of years , France operated DC - 8 aircraft " Sarigue " dedicated to ELINT . A reengined version , Sarigue - NG , went into service in 2000 . The name stands for Systeme Aeroporte de Recueil d ’ Informations de Guerre Electronique ( Airborne Electronic Warfare Information Gathering System ) and also is the French word for Opossum , a shy and retiring animal . The updated aircraft was known as the SARIGUE - NG , with the NG standing for Nouvelle Generation or New Generation . Both DC - 8s had a SIGINT system from Thompson - CSF , and operated in the Baltic , Mediterranean , French Africa , and during Desert Storm and NATO Kosovo operations . It had a distinctive sideways looking airborne radar ( SLAR ) in a " canoe " under the fuselage , as well as large rectangular antenna arrays at each wingtip . The aircraft was fitted with equipment developed by Thompson - CSF , similar to that installed in the earlirt Transall Gabriels . It is believed that the aircraft operated with a 24 man crew and as well as COMINT and SIGINT duties , it could even intercept mobile phone calls . Operated by the French Air Force on behalf of the armed forces and security services , it was seen in the Baltic , Mediterranean and French Africa , as well as being used in support of coalition operations during the Gulf War and NATO peace keeping operations in Kosovo . On 19 Sep 2004 , it was reported that in addition to a 50 % cost overrun on an electronics upgrade by Thales , the weight of the new upgrade violated safety limits . The French Defence Minister confirmed the Sarigue would be retired because of ‘ high operating costs ’ . An Airbus replacement for the DC - 8 was considered and rejected . Germany : Aircraft Platforms . During NATO operations in Bosnia , Germany operated four SIGINT version of the French - German Atlantique patrol aircraft . Germany has selected a UAV platform for SIGINT , the EuroHawk version of the U . S . Air Force RQ - 4 Block 20 Global Hawk . The aircraft is made by Northrop Grumman , with the airborne and ground station equipment from EADS . As with Global Hawk in the US , EuroHawk is approved to operate , unmanned , in the same airspace as commercial aviation . Five EuroHawk s have been ordered so far , as a replacement for Germany ' s aging fleet of Breguet Atlantique s . Israel : Aircraft Platforms . Israel is reported to have converted at least four Boeing 707 aircraft , codenamed Re ' em ( Antelope ) and based at Lod to an electronic warfare role , two for countermeasures and two or more for SIGINT . An indicator of an ELINT role is the presence of a cheek - antenna array externally similar to the AEELS ( Automatic ELINT Emitter Locating System ) on the RC - 135U / V / W . These aging aircraft are due for replacement , probably by Gulfstream G500 executive jets . The aircraft are known as Re ' em ( Antelope ) and are operated by 134 Tayeset at Lod . Some other IAF 707s are possibly configured for AAR / SIGINT operations . Israel is currently looking for up to 9 dual role aircraft to replace their 707 ’ s and will purchase a number of Gulfstream G500s . India : Aircraft Platforms . India appears to have a single 707 ELINT aircraft . Mexico : Aircraft Platforms . The Mexican Air Force has 2 Embraer P - 99 s and 1 Embraer R - 99 A . The R - 99A is an Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft ( AWACS ) equipped with the Erieye airborne radar from Ericsson AB of Sweden . The P - 99 is the maritime patrol version of the R - 99 . It retains many of the C3I and ELINT capabilities of the R - 99B . Russia : Aircraft Platforms . Russian aircraft with SIGINT capability include the Tupolev Tu - 142MZ " Bear - F " , the Beriev A - 50 " Mainstay " ( based on the Il - 76 airframe ) and the Il - 38 " May " maritime patrol aircraft operate from bases in Syria , Al Anad Air Base and Khormaksar International Airport in South Yemen , and San Antonio de Los Banos and Jose Marti airbase in Cuba . Saudi Arabia : Aircraft Platforms . Several 707 derivatives , originally used as KE - 3 tankers , are being converted to two models of SIGINT suites by E Systems . Later versions are on the E - 6 modification of the Boeing 707 , the E - 6 used by the US as a TACAMO command and control aircraft . According to the US Department of Defense , the Tactical Airborne Surveillance System and upgrades will be installed on Saudi E - 3 and E - 6 aircraft . The estimated cost is $ 350 million . South Africa : Aircraft Platforms . Again with modified 707 aircraft , South Africa now operates 3 aircraft , apparently using the Israeli cheek antennas similar to the AEELS ( Automatic ELINT Emitter Locating System ) on the RC - 135U / V / W . Spain : Aircraft Platforms . Spain operates a single 707 variant , modified by Israel and equipped with Israeli and Spanish electronics . As well as an Elta EL / L - 8300 SIGINT system , In the baseline version , this multi - operator Elta system contains 0 . 5 to 18 GHz ELINT ( 0 . 03 to 40 GHz as an option ) , 20 to 1 , 000 MHz ( 2 to 1 , 500 MHz as an option ) COMINT , and control and analysis sub - systems . In addition to the SIGINT payload , the aircraft has a Tamam Stabilised Long Range Observation System ( LOROS ) high - resolution TV camera and recording systems . The SLOROS is reported to have a range of at least 62 miles ( 100 km ) . The aircraft has been reported around the western edge of North Africa , the Western Sahara and the Mediterranean . Sweden : Aircraft Platforms . The Swedish Air Force operates the S - 102B Korpen aircraft which is a modified Gulfstream G - IV business jet . Turkey : Aircraft Platforms . Turkey has 6 C - 130B ELINT aircraft , United Kingdom : Aircraft Platforms . The British Nimrod R1 is a variant of the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft . Its sensors cover the tactical to strategic spectrum . It is reported to have a SIGINT suite from Thales . It retired from RAF use in 2011 , to be replaced eventually by the RC - 135 RIVET JOINT in 2013 . UK E3D AWACS also have SIGINT capability . United States : Aircraft Platforms . Some platforms considered strategic , including the P - 3 and RC - 135 RIVET JOINT aircraft , may be assigned in support of large tactical units . There are both MASINT and SIGINT versions of the RC - 135 , the best - known SIGINT variant being the RC - 135V / W RIVET JOINT . United States : Tactical Aircraft Platforms . In the 1950s and 1960s , SIGINT personnel flew aboard Navy EA - 3B aircraft . As a result of ASA casualties during ground SIGINT in Vietnam , ASA developed its own fleet of tactical SIGINT aircraft , starting with the U - 6 Beaver . The reconnaissance mission for these aircraft was indicated with an " R " prefix , hence RU - 6 . Beavers , however , had poor capabilities . The RU - 1 Otter had more built - in SIGINT equipment , but the first purpose - built Army SIGINT aircraft was the RU - 8D Seminole , which had a Doppler navigation system and wing - mounted direction - finding equipment , although SIGINT operations still required much manual work . Some RU - 8D aircraft had MASINT sensors for categorizing specific transmissions . Especially with tactical aircraft , there was a gap between the knowledge of SIGINT personnel and the understanding of warfighters . For example , end users often expected a direction - finding fix to be a point , rather than an area of probability . In 1968 , the next tactical improvement was the RU - 21 LAFFIN EAGLE and the JU - 21 LEFT JAB , the latter being the first with computerized direction finding and data storage . Even more advanced ASA equipment was on P - 2V aircraft borrowed from the Navy , and called CEFLIEN LION or CRAZY CAT platforms . During the Vietnam era , six UH - 1 helicopters were converted to SIGINT platforms , called EH - 1 LEFT BANK aircraft and operated in direct support of combat aircraft . US tactical SIGINT aircraft include the EH - 60A Quickfix helicopter , which has interception capabilities in the 1 . 5 - 150 MHz and direction finding between 20 - 76 MHz . The EH - 60L has better communications and ungradability than the A model , with the AN / MSR - 3 TACJAM - A system . RC - 12 Guardrail aircraft provide a corps - level ESM capability , with the unusual approach of putting all the analysis equipment on the ground , with the RC - 12K / N / P / Q aircraft acting purely as intercept and relay platforms . The Guardrail aircraft normally fly in units of three , to get better cross - bearings in direction - finding . The Navy EA - 6 replaced the USAF EF - 111 EW aircraft for all services , and the EA - 6 is being replaced by the EA - 18G Growler . All EW aircraft have some ELINT capability if for no other reason than targeting . Naval MH - 60R helicopters have AN / ALQ - 210 ESM suites . United States : Strategic Aircraft Platforms . The most common aircraft used in a strategic role by US allies are Boeing 707 conversions for the lower - budget , lower - capability installations , and Boeing 767 conversions for the higher - end . Gulfstream executive jets are another platform of interest . The US military is considering , as its aircraft age , replacing with variants on the foreign platforms , often built on US - made aircraft . Some features are common to multiple countries , such as a pair are two " chipmunk cheek " bulges containing SIGINT antennas . There is a US made set used on the RC - 135V and RC - 135W Rivet Joint aircraft . A US - made variant , reported to have internal differences , is used by Saudi Arabia . A third variant , with a similar appearance , but of Israeli manufacture , are used by Israel and South Africa . In no case , however , are these the only SIGINT antennas on the aircraft . Dedicated RC - 135 aircraft , operated by the US Air Force , are in a variety of SIGINT and MASINT configurations . An effort is underway to develop a standard RC - 135 open architecture , allowing at least some of the aircraft to be quickly reconfigured . RIVET JOINT is the most common SIGINT type . On the long - range Navy P - 3 maritime surveillance aircraft is the AN / ALR - 66B ( V ) 3 ELINT / MASINT system targeted against radars . Major improvements are an improved direction - finding antenna and an EP - 2060 pulse analyzer . The dedicated SIGINT EP - 3 uses a JMOD ( Joint Airborne SIGINT Modification ) program to a JMOD common configuration ( JCC ) . Northrop Grumman developed the SIGINT package for the Global Hawk UAV . An upgraded version of the same SIGINT payload is flown on U - 2 . Boeing has proposed a SIGINT variant of the P - 8 multimission maritime patrol aircraft it has under development . Raytheon and Northrop Grumman would be the partners for the actual SIGINT electronics . Boeing also has built a " Wedgetail 737 " for Turkey , and appears to be marketing this as an alternative to the lower - end systems being built for business jets such as the Gulfstream . Australia also has ordered this aircraft . Satellite Platforms . The US launched the first SIGINT satellites , followed by the Soviets . Recently , however , the French have been launching intelligence satellites , on French and Russian rockets , and are exchanging information with the Germans and Italians , both of which are deploying synthetic aperture radar MASINT constellations , with an undefined IMINT or electro - optical MASINT capability on the Italian satellites . Additional nations have launched IMINT satellites ; SIGINT seems to be a lesser priority , with radar MASINT often a higher priority . There are a number of bilateral agreements for satellite cost and intelligence sharing . European Military Space Policy . European nations deal with a complex set of issues in developing space - based intelligence systems . Many of the operational and proposed systems have bilateral information sharing agreements , such as France providing ELINT to its radar MASINT SAR and its IMINT partners . SIGINT capability , however , is fairly rare , with France in the Western European lead . Quite a number of issues are driving European needs for intelligence policy . During the 1991 Gulf War , France ' s dependence on US assets convince it that it needed its own , or at least European , space - based intelligence . Balkan operations and both dependence on US assets , and exclusion from certain information , further pushed the desire , although the topmost levels of government had not yet been convinced . In 1998 , a British - French meeting in St . Malo , France , produced a declaration that the EU needed " a capacity for analysis of situations , " sources of intelligence , and a capability for relevant strategic planning " ( emphasis added ) . This was a major change in British policy toward the EU , in that Britain had wanted the EU to stay out of defense issues , leaving them to NATO . At a 1999 meeting in Cologne , Germany , while Kosovo was being bombed by NATO , the EU leadership repeated the St . Malo declaration , including having EU military forces not dependent on NATO . They also called for " the reinforcement of our capabilities in the field of intelligence / " WEU / EU Military Force . At a Helsinki meeting in December 1999 and a follow - up meeting in Sintra , Portugal on February 2000 , there was agreement on a 15 brigade multinational corps with air and naval support , ready by 2003 . European defense policy called for three new bodies that would need intelligence support : a Political and Security Committee composed of ambassadors with an advisory role to the EU Council of Ministers , a Military Committee of senior officers , and a Multinational Planning Staff . There was additional consensus on merging the WEU into the EU WEU has concentrated on IMINT , which is increasingly less sensitive than other intelligence disciplines due to the availability of commercial imagery . The WEY headquarters does have an Intelligence Section that produces finished intelligence for the member states , within the capabilities of a staff of six . European Union Satellite Centre . In May 1991 , however , the WEU ministers agreed to create the European Union Satellite Centre in Torrejón de Ardoz , which became a permanent center in May 1995 . The Center neither owns nor operates any satellites , but buys and analyzes commercial imagery . This is not wildly dissimilar to the way the US has the National Reconnaissance Office to launch and operate satellites , with the National Geospatial - Intelligence Agency ( NGA ) analyzing the imagery . It should be stressed that the Torrejon center deals only with IMINT and possibly SAR and multispectral MASINT . It does not receive information directly from satellites , but from their operators . The center contributed to planning with reference to situations in the Balkans and Africa in the mid - 1990s . Up to May 13 , 1997 , the Center was only allowed to study an area after the WEU council agreed that an area was in crisis . After that date , they received a " general surveillance mission " and permission to build databases . Bosnian operations continued to point out dependency on the US for C4I . The balance between building European capability without duplicating NATO remained an issueGerman SIGINT units that were part of the French - led Multinational Division ( MND ) in Bosnia provided intelligence to the division - level French headquarters . Sharing the more sensitive disciplines . The biggest problem in joint intelligence is sharing , especially the now more - sensitive SIGINT , HUMINT , and MASINT . The next largest is damage to bilateral relationships , especially with the US . Not all EU nations have the traditional French priority for autonomy . It is not clear how far other European nations , especially the six that are in the NATO but not the EU , are willing to cooperate . Turkey suggested that if it cannot be involved in EU policy , it might work to block EU access to NATO . Norway also expressed concern over the St . Malo declaration , and in February 2000 , British officials spoke about a proposal that the EU take on collective defense , that still being a NATO responsibility . European Space Council and current concerns . In 2004 , the European Space Council was formed , although it is still struggling with dual - use issues , and the relationships with NATO and US policy . Complicating matters is that the European Space Agency ( ESA ) is new in non - civilian applications . Should Europe proceed on its security objective , a policy needs to be defined that will not jeopardize the peaceful application . This needs to happen without creating a false firewall with military activities , as the US created NASA as an ostensibly civilian - only organization , deliberately picking a civilian , Neil Armstrong to put the first footprint on the Moon . China ' s anti - satellite ( ASAT ) test in 2007 concerned ESA , as debris from the test has produced numerous near - misses of other satellites . ESA also suggested it might work on a data relay satellite such as TDRSS , which is dual - use . Some of its present communications projects are dual use . Next Generation . A pointer to the direction is whether there will be consensus on a next - generation European system of IMINT and radar MASINT satellites . A proposal in process is to generate the Multinational Space - based Imagery System for Surveillance , Reconnaissance , and Observation ( MUSIS ) . The participants are Belgium , France , Germany , Greece , Italy and Spain . EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space are competing , under the direction of the French defense procurement agency , DGA . This system could be operational somewhere around 2015 - 2017 , around the time that the French Helios and joint French - Italian Pleiades IMINT satellites need replacement . The German SAR Lupe and Italian CosmoSkyMed radar satellites will last up to 2017 or 2018 . Belgium : Satellite Platforms . Belgium is a financial partner in the French Helios 2 IMINT satellite system . French Essaim ELINT satellites were launched with Helios 2A . It has not been announced if Spain , as a Helios 2 partner , will have access to French Essaim ELINT . Belgium is a MUSIS partner , which should be considered in assessing the potential of information sharing among the partners . France : Satellite Platforms . John Pike states the Socialist government , elected in May 1981 and led President François Mitterrand were unknown at the time of his election in May 1981 marked the attempt to put SDECE under civilian control . In June 1981 , Stone Marion , a civilian who was the former Director of the Paris Airport , was named to the head of the SDECE but met with opposition , as a socialist and civilian , from inside SDECE . France and Britain had both been facing both the desirability and cost of intelligence satellites independent of the US . In the mid - 1980s , with the development of the Ariane launcher and its associated large launch complex in French Guiana , the French liked the idea of such independence . Planning started on French IMINT satellites called Helios , a radar imaging satellite called Osiris and then Horus , and a SIGINT satellite to be called Zenon when operational . France would launch technology demonstrators before a fully operational SIGINT satellite . France began its intelligence satellite program with Helios IMINT satellites , although they also planned on Horus ( first called Osiris ) radar MASINT and Zenon ELINT platforms . France , still desiring to have three different space - based intelligence systems ( IMINT , radar surveillance , SIGINT ) , had to face extremely high costs . In 1994 - 1995 , French legislators tried to reduce some of these plans . In response , the French government sought Italian and Spanish funding in , and cooperation with , the HELIOS 1 program . They also sought German involvement in Helios 2 . Two first - generation Helios satellites , with 1 - meter optical imaging resolution and no infrared capability , were launched in 1995 and 1999 . Helios 1 was an Italian - Spanish . Helios 2 is a French – Belgian – Spanish partnership . On 18 December 2004 , Helios 2A , built by EADS - Astrium for the French Space Agency ( CNES ) , was launched into a Sun - synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of about 680 kilometers . There it will serve the French defense ministry , as well as cooperating European countries . Helios 2B is scheduled for launch in 2008 . The same launcher carried French and Spanish scientific satellites and four Essaim ( " Swarm " ) experimental ELINT satellites . Sources in the French procurement agency , DGA , confirmed Essaim , a system of ground station and satellite constellation , is working well . DGA , the French military procurement agency , announced that the constellation of four Essaim ELINT satellites launched with Helios 2A on 18 December 2004 would begin operations in May 2005 . Essaims operate in a linked system of three active satellites with an in - orbit spare . There is one active earth station , with two due to follow . Essaim is a third - generation technology demonstrator with some operational capability . A radio propagation experiment , S80 - T , was launched in 1992 , as a predecessor of the ELINT experiments . The first generation was Cerise , launched in 1995 and damaged in 1996 by a collision with the French SPOT - 1 earth resource observing satellite . Clementine , the second generation , was launched in 1999 . Some French defense officials have criticized the DGA for insisting on a third in - orbit demonstrator program after a decade of initial validation with the previous satellites . DGA officials note that Essaim has greater capacity than its predecessors and will provide some operational data . They say Essaim is designed to maintain French expertise long enough to persuade other European governments to join in an operational eavesdropping effort , which France alone cannot afford . In a Ministère de la Défense 12 / 18 / 2004 statement , France announced that Helios 2A is part of an exchange program planned with the SAR - Lupe and Italian COSMO - SKYMED systems , under development respectively in Germany and Italy . France is also developing the new generation PLEIADES two - satellite optical dual - use ( military - civilian ) system . PLEIADES is intended to succeed France ' s SPOT system is considered part of the Franco - Italian ORFEO ( Optical and Radar Federated Earth Observation ) programme , being due for launch around 2008 - 10 . France is a MUSIS partner , which should be considered in assessing the potential of information sharing among the partners . Germany : Satellite Platforms . Germany ' s SAR Lupe is a constellation of five X - band SAR satellites in three polar orbits . Following the first successful launch on December 19 , 2006 , Germany , using a Russian booster , launched the second satellite in its planned five - satellite SAR - Lupe synthetic aperture radar constellation on July 2 , 2007 , the third on November 1 , 2007 , the fourth on March 27 , 2008 and the last one on July 22 , 2008 . The system achieved full operational readiness with the launch of the last satellite . SAR is usually considered a MASINT sensor , but the significance here is that Germany obtains access to French satellite ELINT . Germany is a MUSIS partner , which should be considered in assessing the potential of information sharing among the partners . Greece : Satellite Platforms . Greece is a MUSIS partner , which should be considered in assessing the potential of information sharing among the partners . Italy : Satellite Platforms . The first CosmoSkyMed ( Constellation of small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation ) went into orbit in June 2007 . The second should be launched in late 2007 , and the remaining two in 2008 - 9 . According to a Thales executive , Giorgio Piemontese , a followon needs to be planned soon to avoid a gap . Italy and France are cooperating on the deployment of the dual - use Orfeo civilian and military satellite system . Orfeo is a dual - use ( civilian and military ) earth observation satellite network developed jointly between France and Italy . Italy is developing the Cosmo - Skymed X - band polarimetric SAR , to fly on two of the satellites . The other two will have complementary French electro - optical payloads . The second Orfeo is scheduled to launch in early 2008 . While this is not an explicit SIGINT system , the French - Italian cooperation may suggest that Italy can get data from the French Essaim ELINT microsatellites . Italy plains joint development , with France , of the ORFEO ( Optical and Radar Federated Earth Observation ) system , to be launched in 2008 - 10 . Italy is a MUSIS partner , which should be considered in assessing the potential of information sharing among the partners . Russia : Satellite Platforms . The USSR appears to have emphasized ELINT more than COMINT in their space - based SIGINT program . After proof - of - concept of an ELINT payload on the first - generation IMINT satellites , the Tselina program was started in 1964 , and the first successful launch of the simpler , lower - sensitivity Tselina O was in 1967 . The more complex Tselina D first flew in 1970 , a more complex Tselina D spacecraft started flying . Both versions flew until 1984 , when the Tselina D was set up in a constellation of 6 satellites . Both Tselina O and D versions were flying side by side until 1984 , when Tselina O subsystem was abandoned and its functions integrated into those conducted by the Tselina D spacecraft . As the Western observers noted , the Tselina D spacecraft , known in the West as the " heavy ELINT , " would orbit the Earth in groups of six satellites spread 60 degrees apart in their orbits . Requirements for the Tselina - 2 series were issued in 1974 , with a first test launch scheduled for 1980 and full operational capability in 1982 . Requirements grew until the Tselina - 2 was too heavy for the Tsyklon - 3 booster , and the program was switched to the Zenit booster in development . With the capacity of the Zenit , additional capabilities were added , including telemetry through relay satellites . An interesting but poorly understood feature of the Tselina - 2 system is that the satellites are placed into orbits that interact strongly with features of the Earth ' s gravitational field ( " 14th order harmonics " ) in such a way that the natural orbital decay caused by atmospheric drag is inhibited for long periods of time . On April 27 , 1979 , the Military Industrial Commission , VPK , officially approved the Zenit as a launcher for the Tselina - 2 satellite . The VPK scheduled the beginning of flight tests for the 2nd quarter of 1981 . The first Tselina - 2 blasted off in September 1984 under official name Cosmos 1603 and declared operational in 1988 . Tselina - 2 system was declared operational in December 1988 , which was confirmed by a government decree issued in December 1990 . The most recent launch was on June 29 , 2007 , named Cosmos - 2428 . It is believed that was the last Tselina - 2 , with a next generation coming . According to , the Tselina - 2 is intended for land targets , while the US - PU EORSAT is intended for naval ELINT . EORSAT is passive , not to be confused with the nuclear - powered radar ocean surveillance satellites ( RORSAT ) , no longer operational . A full constellation of US - PU includes 3 - 4 spacecraft in LEO of 400 km , but not more than one has been in orbit since 2004 , along with two Tselina - 2 ' s . A new generation of ELINT satellites , possibly combining the land and sea missions , may be in development . Spain : Satellite Platforms . Spain is a financial partner in the French Helios 2 IMINT satellite system . Spain plans a dual - use optical and radar system . Due to the arrangement between France and Germany to exchange Helios 2 and SAR Lupe imagery , excluding the non - French partners in Helios . It has not been announced if Spain , as a Helios 2 partner , will have access to French Essaim ELINT . Spain is a MUSIS partner , which should be considered in assessing the potential of information sharing among the partners . United States : Satellite Platforms . The first US SIGINT satellites , Galactic Radiation and Background ( GRAB ) were launched in 1960 by the Naval Research Laboratory , but the existence of the program was highly classified . The name of the program was changed to Poppy ( satellite ) after the National Reconnaissance Office was created in 1962 . While there had been considerable resistance , in the 1970s , to admitting to " the fact of " satellite IMINT , there was considerably more sensitivity to admitting even to " the fact of " US satellite SIGINT . The US decided to admit to using satellites for SIGINT and MASINT in 1996 . US SIGINT satellites have included the CANYON series Rhyolite / Aquacade series , succeeded by the Vortex / Magnum / Orion and Mentor . Where the preceding satellites were in close to geosynchronous orbit , JUMPSEAT / TRUMPET satellites were in Moliyna orbits giving better polar coverage . From 1972 to 1989 , low earth orbit SIGINT satellites were launched only as secondary payloads with KH - 9 and KH - 11 IMINT satellites . They were code - named after female sex symbols , such as RAQUEL , FARRAH , BRIDGET and MARILYN . Four geosychronous RHYOLITE satellites were launched in the seventies , with COMINT and TELINT missions . After having the name compromised when Christopher Boyce sold information to the Soviets , the code name was changed to AQUACADE . In the late seventies , another class of geosynchronous SIGINT satellites , first called CHALET and renamed VORTEX after the code name was compromised . After the loss of Iranian monitoring stations , these satellites were also given a TELINT capability . JUMPSEAT ELINT satellites , using a Moliyna orbit , started launching in 1975 . MAGNUM geosynchronous SIGINT satellites were first launched from the Space Shuttle in 1985 . These were believed to be more sensitive and perhaps stealthier than RHYOLITE / AQUACADE .