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Army Prophet debuts on Capitol Hill

by Joe Burlas

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, June 13, 2002) -- The Army has a new prophet to assist in collecting battlefield intelligence.

The first two production models of Prophet Block I, an electronic warfare system that intercepts radio communications and provides radio direction-finding data, were unveiled and officially delivered to the Army in a ceremony on Capitol Hill June 12.

"This system has already been proven," said Lt. Gen. Robert Noonan, deputy chief of staff, G2. "Many of you don't know, and we won't get into too much detail, but it has been used in Afghanistan -- in operations over there -- very successfully."

Designed to replace legacy electronic warfare systems developed more than 30 years ago, the Prophet strongly supports current Army Transformation efforts by being more agile, mobile, deployable and responsive to user needs, said Edward Blair, program executive officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors.

"The (Army) chief of staff's vision is for the future to see first, act first, kill first," Blair said. "The Prophet is truly transformational in that it supports that the first part of the Army's vision. To see first, we must have persistent and pervasive intelligence-gathering capabilities."

Mounted on a High Mobility Wheeled Vehicle, the Prophet weights about a third of the older systems currently used by most military intelligence units and takes up about a third of the space, said Sgt. Fred Clemens, squad leader, D Troop, 1-14th Cavalry Squadron, Fort Lewis, Wash. The 1-14th Cav is a Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition squadron -- a new Army unit that is integral to each "Stryker" Interim Brigade Combat Team.

Clemens has been part of the 1-14th since the first Stryker brigade started forming about two years ago. During that time, he has been using a Prophet research and development demonstration model to get familiar with the equipment, make product improvement recommendations and help develop tactics and techniques for the system.

Some of the advantages of the newer system, Clemens said, include: digital triangulation via the Prophet's computer, vice taking the legacy system's bearing data and plotting it with a grease pencil on a map; the ability to operate on the move; two minutes or less to erect the antenna's 20-foot mast -- "Some of the older guys say the Legacy system mast can take three to four hours to set up;" and reduced thermal and acoustics signatures because it all operates off the HUMVEE's batteries as opposed to a separate power generator.

While much of the system's specific capabilities remains classified, said Lt. Col. William Stevenson, Prophet product manager, it can cover 10 times more radio frequencies compared to older EW systems.

Why the Prophet name? Stevenson explained that part of the military intelligence mission is to gain insight into enemy courses of action and intentions, and fix locations of specific targets. The name fits as analyzed Prophet data can find those targets and is often insightful into what the enemy intends to do, he said.

Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, representative of California's 51st District and a Vietnam-era Navy pilot, gave his own insight as to why technology like the Prophet is needed today.

"There is a 100-percent, absolute certainty that some fundamentalist group -- or groups -- will attack this city sometime this year," Cunningham said after excusing himself for being late due to a joint Senate-House of Representative Intelligence Committee meeting. Emerging intelligence technology like the Prophet can assist in thwarting enemy plans, he said.

Holder of the Navy Cross and the United States' first ace of the Vietnam War, Cunningham related how lack of effective intelligence lead to the loss of U.S. planes and lives during action against a North Vietnam target.

"We had no idea there were any (surface-to-air missiles) in the area," Cunningham said. "They launched 36 SAMs in pairs at us over a 15-minute period. We lost two Navy aircraft and seven Air Force."

The Army has contracted with the contractor, Titan Corporation, to deliver 83 Prophets. Initial deliveries will go to the two Stryker brigades at Fort Lewis, Wash.

The fielding plan calls for each division to get six models; armored cavalry regiments, four; Stryker brigades, three; and separate brigades, two. The Training and Doctrine Command will get five Prophets to meet institutional training requirements.

Lt. Col. James Cashwell, commander of 1-14 Cav, signed for the first two production models at the Capitol Hill ceremony.