Leonardo launches Spider, the latest generation system for communications intelligence

(To Leonardo)
14/07/18

Leonardo will present at the Farnborough aerospace exhibition (16-20 July) a new product COMINT (COMmunications INTelligence) for electronic communications intelligence, called "Spider" for the eight radio frequency antennas contained in the system.

Spider is able to intercept and analyze communications from hostile sources in real time, allowing to monitor the position of enemy forces thanks to an advanced geolocation technology integrated into the system. Spider detects and tracks targets and establishes their position, allowing operators to have a detailed picture of the activities of hostile forces.

Functional tests were performed in the 2018 and the first supplies will be available from the 2019. Designed and manufactured in the UK, the system was developed to provide high-level COMINT capabilities at significantly lower cost than competing products.

The system is supplied already calibrated and ready for installation on the aircraft; weighs less than 20 kg and is easily integrated under the belly of the aircraft inside a pod from 1,5 x 0,5 x 0,5 m. It can be installed on a wide range of platforms including surveillance aircraft such as the King Air 350, MALE (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) class piloted aircraft and larger aircraft such as Leonardo's ATR-72MP.

Spider can be combined with Leonardo's SAGE electronic protection system ELINT (Electronic INTELLIGENCE) to provide a complete SIGINT (SIGnals INTelligence) capability to collect and analyze information through a single mission interface. The COMINT and ELINT data are provided to the crew through the same graphic mode that allows an overview for the mission commander or a dedicated analysis of the COMINT and ELINT information.

Leonardo is the European leader in electronic protection systems for airplanes. The company is leading the EuroDASS consortium, which provides the integrated support suite (Defensive Aids Sub-System) for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. Leonardo has integrated this type of defense countermeasures on numerous helicopters of the British Armed Forces, such as AW159 Wildcat, Puma, Chinook and Apache AH-64D, as well as international clients, and was recently selected to provide a security suite
also for the new UK Apache AH-64E helicopters. With its innovative family of BriteCloud products, Leonardo is the only company able to offer an effective protection device based on radiofrequency technology. The BriteCloud is in service with the British Royal Air Force. The experience gained in the sector allows us to offer customers an important operational support capacity capable of significantly increasing the effectiveness of their electronic protection systems.