The Diplomat
The Spanish multinational Indra has closed a contract to equip the first KSS III submarine of Lot II to be delivered to the Korean Navy with its ‘Pegasus’ electronic defence system, which offers a high capacity to intercept signals from the adversary.
The company explained that the system to be carried on the new Korean submarine monitors electromagnetic signals emitted in its environment to gather intelligence (SIGINT), combining the functions of the radar signal measurement and communications support system (RESM/CESM). The solution integrates both sensors into a single antenna to increase efficiency, save space and reduce the radar section of the submarine itself, making it more difficult for the enemy to detect.
It also incorporates True Wideband Digital Reception, or ‘True Wideband Digital Reception’, which instantly covers a wide spectrum of the radar and communications band to increase the probability of intercepting any ship or aircraft in the vicinity of the submarine to almost 100%. The technology company adds that in addition to collecting high-value intelligence information for the entire fleet, the ‘Pegasus’ system will provide “vital” data for the command’s decision-making process and the tactical planning of the operation to be carried out by the rest of the deployed platforms.
Indra will address the high-level integration of its ‘Pegasus’ system with the combat system (CMS) developed by the local Korean company Hanwha Sytems. It will also work with the DSME shipyard to support the Korean Navy in defining the doctrine for the use of electronic defence systems on underwater platforms, particularly in the area of communications signals intelligence in areas of conflict.
The Spanish company has been awarded this contract after having equipped three KSS III submarines from the first batch of this programme. The new configuration of the ‘Pegasus’ system it will now implement will be more sophisticated and will enhance the capabilities of the new improved version of the KSS III, a state-of-the-art submarine of about 90 metres in length and capable of displacing more than 4,000 tonnes submerged.
The ‘Pegasus’ system is capable of automatic and instantaneous emission detection (including precise angle-of-arrival information), analysis, classification, identification and recording of pulsed or continuous wave signals in the radar and communications frequency bands.
It also allows the recording of signals, data and events occurring during the mission for subsequent offline analysis using specific software tools for detailed mission analysis.
