Intelligence

AN/MLQ-40 Prophet

In mid-1999, both versions of the Ground Based Common Sensor (GBCS Heavy and Light) as well as the Advanced Quickfix [AQF] program were replaced by the Prophet System. The Prophet ORD was approved by TRADOC effective 26 April 1999. This officially transitioned the program from the Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Common Sensor (IEWCS), Ground Based Common Sensor - Heavy/Light (GBCS-H/L), and Advanced QuickFix (AQF).

General Description. The Prophet is the Division and Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) commander's principal signals intelligence & electronic warfare (SIGINT & EW) system and preprocessor of organic SIGINT. It supports Force XXI and Army After Next (AAN) concepts by providing the commander with greatly enhanced situational awareness. The Prophet will also provide the Tactical Commander with an enhanced capability for electronic Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), battlespace visualization, target development, and force protection throughout the division's width and depths as defined in Army XXI. Prophet will provide for non-lethal fires through its Electronic Attack and will provide the commander with their own Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) asset.

The System is named for "The Prophets" Delta Company, 104th Military Intelligence Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Ft Hood, TX and the unit it was reflagged from, Alpha and later Delta Company, 522d Military Intelligence Battalion, 2d Armored Division, "the Original Prophets".

Interfaces and Connectivity. The Prophet feeds the division and armored cavalry commander's Analysis Control Element's (ACE) All Source Analysis System (ASAS). It will also feed the subordinate commander's Analysis Control Team's (ACT) Common Ground Station (CGS) and/or ASAS-Remote Work Stations (ASAS-RWS) providing in near-real-time digital information to the common operating picture (COP). Commanders receive added force protection from Prophet's ability to provide voice reports to the supported units from the Prophet Ground and Control assets.). To optimize its capabilities, Prophet is fully integrated with and cued through ASAS by sound IPB and other sensors such as Joint STARS, GUARDRAIL Common Sensor (GRCS), Artillery Counter Mortar/Battery Radars and Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control/FAADC2, in a synchronized effort to support the warfighter. Regardless of the Prophet's role's the operations officer must ensure the Prophet is synchronized with all other assets with in the battlespace.

Mission's of Prophet.

• Signals Mapping (Electronic Mapping) (Primary Mission)
• Electronic Attack (EA)
• Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR)
• More precise locationing techniques to assist in the targeting process
• Selected signals internals exploitation (either directly from the Ground or remotely from Air)

System Description. The Prophet consists of Prophet Air, Control, and Ground and is a suite of division- level EW/SIGINT systems that operate at the collateral level or below (The Prophet Control element will have the capability to co-locate and interface with SCI elements such as the ACE or Special Purpose-Built Systems (SPBS)). Prophet's primary mission will be to electronically map radio frequency (RF) emitters on the battlefield from 20 MHz (High Frequency/HF) to 2000 MHz (Super High Frequency/SHF). Electronic mapping is defined as detecting, identifying, locating, and tracking all RF emitters operating within line of sight and hearability and a graphical depiction Electronic Targeting Indicators (ETIs) of these emitters to allow for nodal analysis and correlation with other intelligence feeds at the Division's ACE SIGINT section and with the CGS at the Brigade's ACT. Prophet will facilitate the Protection of Global Positioning System (GPS) (GPS Protect), Detection of intrusion or false GPS signals (GPS Detect), and Attack the opposing forces capability to utilize GPS (GPS Attack). The systems will also have the capability to more accurately locate selected emitters, conduct Electronic Attack (EA) of selected nodes, and perform exploitation of tactical voice communications. The Prophet will provide the capability to cross cue other IEW and non-IEW sensors. The Prophet's family of control elements and remote sensors/ platforms will consist of the following sub-systems:

(1) Prophet Control will be the heart of the system. It is the forward, collateral SIGINT analysis element organic to the division and ACR. Prophet Control (PC) orchestrates the overall SIGINT/EW effort within the division. It will remotely control the receivers on the PA platforms, task the PG sensors, and will preprocess the locational data. The PC will transmit and receive formatted reports to and from the Division's ACE and the Brigade's ACT, as well as provide a NRT graphical display ETI Dynamic Overlays of collected information. The Prophet Control will also have an OTM capability giving commanders the ability to track ETIs during displacement operations. To optimize its capabilities, Prophet Control is fully integrated with and cued through ASAS by sound IPB and other sensors such as Joint STARS, Guardrail Common Sensor, Artillery Counter Mortar/Battery Radars and Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control, in a synchronized effort to support the warfighter. Prophet Control will consist of two identical systems facilitating force projection, split based, on-the-move, and displacement (hot jump) operations.

(2) Prophet Air elements are remotely tasked airborne collection sensors operating in general support of the Division Commander, from 15 to 20 kilometers from Forward Edge of Battle Area (FEBA). Initially the platform for PA will be the EH-60 with the objective platform being unmanned. Prophet Air will provide the division commander with a deep looking SIGINT/EW platform capable of detecting, identifying, and locating all RF emitters throughout the Area of operations (AO). Prophet Air will also have Electronic Attack capabilities.

The Fiscal Year 2001 Army budget request included decisions to restructure or "divest" a number of programs in order to provide some of the resources to support its transformation to achieve the ambitious deployment goals outlined in the October 1999 Army Vision. The restructured programs are the Crusader and the Future Scout and Cavalry System. The "divestitures" include Heliborne Prophet (Air), MLRS Smart Tactical Rocket (MSTAR), Stinger Block II, Command and Control Vehicle (C2V), Grizzly, Wolverine, and the Army Tactical Missile System Block IIA. Funding for these programs was reallocated to fund the Army Vision transformation strategy.

(3) Prophet Ground elements are ground collection sensors with the capability for early entry, airborne insertion. Prophet Ground (PG) operates in direct support of the maneuver brigade. The base capability for PG is to provide force protection information from a man-packable system. The base capability for PG is force protection in a man-packable system. The system will also be vehicular mountable to allow for use of the vehicle's power, mobility, and an increased antenna capability. The mounted PG sensors will also have an OTM collection and reporting capabilities. PG assets must be simple, inexpensive, and easy to maintain, with a low visual and a minimal electronic signature. It needs to keep pace on the Army XXI battlefield. The system will have vehicular capability to allow for use of the vehicle's power, mobility, and an increased antenna capability, as well as an Electronic Attack capability.

Operational Concept. The Prophet system allows the DIV and ACR commander's to "paint and understand" their battlespace and gain dominant situational awareness on the Army XXI battlefield. Prophet is a critical component of the Army XXI Division collection package. It gives the maneuver commander a comprehensive picture of electronic emitters within his battlespace and provides the ability to locate, collect, and electronically attack selected emitters where ground reconnaissance assets cannot penetrate or cover in a timely manner. Prophet Ground can also collect or Electronically Attack (EA) from heavily protected areas where commanders are hesitant to commit aerial platforms. Prophet gives the commanders a dedicated, dynamically re-taskable asset with the capability to look wide, as well as deep into their battlespace (150 kilometers wide by 120 kilometers deep). In addition, if valuable information is being passed, Prophet can either exploit the signal for intelligence, or immediate action can be taken to electronically attack the signal to preclude the passing of critical data.

Prophet will be employed and deployed in the following manner.

Prophet Control will be employed by the Military Intelligence Battalion at the DIV Tactical Center and Tactical Operations Center (TAC/TOC) or the regimental equivalents. Prophet Control can also be deployed at the Brigade TOC when in a force projection contingency operation. The Prophet Control will be capable of supporting operations during displacement (hot jump). All sensors will receive their technical data from the Prophet Control element.


Prophet Air will be fielded to the aviation element of the division or ACR. EW/SIGINT missions will be planned and directed by the Division ACE's Collection Manager, Military Intelligence BN S-3, and Prophet Control. The PA element will be under OPCON of the MI Battalion Commander and under staff supervision of the ACofS, G2 during peacetime, contingency missions and operations. The PA sensors are deployed approximately 10-20 kilometers from the division's main effort forward area of in a Restricted Operation Zone (ROZ). This ROZ must be coordinated with the division's A²C² element.


Prophet Ground elements will be fielded to the Direct Support (DS) Companies of the MI Bn or ACR equivalent and will be capable of early (forced) entry through either airborne, air assault or light infantry operational insertions. As deployment/ contingency operations permit, the vehicular component of PG will be deployed into the Area of Operations to facilitate the mobility of the team and enhance the sensor's capabilities through additional receivers and/or extended antennas mounted on the vehicle. Prophet Ground sensors will normally receive their movement orders directly from the Prophet Control element, as well as coordination for logistics. The vehicular-mounted and dismounted PG sensors are deployed on forward edge of the brigade and ACR footprint. The Prophet Control element along with the SIGINT section of the Division ACE should support the MI BN S3's execution of tactical control by recommending suitable sites for the PG sensors to deploy based on technical and tactical factors.

Basis Of Issue (BOI)

			Light and 
			Conservative Heavy Division	ACR and Strike Force
Prophet Air:		Six Air Platforms		Four Air Platforms
Prophet Ground:		Six Ground Sensors		Four Ground Sensors
Prophet Control:	One System			One System

POC.

TRADOC System Manager for Prophet
CDR, USAIC&FH
ATTN: ATZS-GB
Ft. Huachuca, AZ 85613-6000
(520) 533-5579/5850 (DSN: 821)
Fax: (520) 533-2534
Email: fryc@huachuca-emh1.army.mil