Late August 2015, L-3 Linkabit received a significant award for its next-generation PRD-13(V)3 tactical On-The-March (OTM) Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). L-3 Linkabit’s PRD-13(V)3 is the latest tactical ESM system in the combat-proven PRD-13 product line first introduced 20 years ago. This third-generation system continues the legacy of what has been the predominant tactical ESM system of choice for both the US and international ISR communities.
The competitive field trial held in South Wales, UK, involved four Technology Readiness Level 9 tactical ESM systems from various industry vendors and included exploitation and direction-finding (DF) of electronic transmissions in the HF, VHF and UHF spectrum. L-3’s PRD-13(V)3 was selected as the most capable ESM system, demonstrating both superior signal acquisition and DF accuracy.
“Findings from the trial clearly show that our PRD-13(V)3 meets or exceeds the rigorous requirements of today’s tactical military operations,” said Elissa Seidenglanz, President of L-3 Linkabit. “We are pleased to be providing the ISR community with a true On-The-March SIGINT system that delivers even greater performance from a much smaller form factor, while preserving powerful capabilities for fixed-site surveillance, maritime and ground vehicle operations.”
Enhancements to the PRD-13(V)3 include software-defined processing, significant weight and power reduction for OTM operations, and an IP-based architecture that enables remote operations as well as networking of multiple systems. For PRD-13(V)3 OTM operations, an additional Android-based handheld controller allows the system to be operated through a tether to the processor or via a wireless network. Weighing less than 32 pounds, the complete OTM system includes optional frames that make it rucksack-agnostic. To support fixed or mounted operations, a ruggedised laptop is used for spectrum surveillance, decoding and analysis, as well as for emitter mapping.
The competitive field trial held in South Wales, UK, involved four Technology Readiness Level 9 tactical ESM systems from various industry vendors and included exploitation and direction-finding (DF) of electronic transmissions in the HF, VHF and UHF spectrum. L-3’s PRD-13(V)3 was selected as the most capable ESM system, demonstrating both superior signal acquisition and DF accuracy.
“Findings from the trial clearly show that our PRD-13(V)3 meets or exceeds the rigorous requirements of today’s tactical military operations,” said Elissa Seidenglanz, President of L-3 Linkabit. “We are pleased to be providing the ISR community with a true On-The-March SIGINT system that delivers even greater performance from a much smaller form factor, while preserving powerful capabilities for fixed-site surveillance, maritime and ground vehicle operations.”
Enhancements to the PRD-13(V)3 include software-defined processing, significant weight and power reduction for OTM operations, and an IP-based architecture that enables remote operations as well as networking of multiple systems. For PRD-13(V)3 OTM operations, an additional Android-based handheld controller allows the system to be operated through a tether to the processor or via a wireless network. Weighing less than 32 pounds, the complete OTM system includes optional frames that make it rucksack-agnostic. To support fixed or mounted operations, a ruggedised laptop is used for spectrum surveillance, decoding and analysis, as well as for emitter mapping.