WASHINGTON --- The next generation of combat search-and-rescue equipment is currently being tested by the Department of Defense and should be available for use by 2002.
The Combat Survivor Evader Locator uses satellites and the military Global Positioning System to take much of the guesswork out of current search-and-rescue efforts. "Our ability to pick up, identify and locate a survivor on the ground has not increased significantly since Vietnam," said Lt. Col. Norm Albert, CSEL program manager. "CSEL is really going to revolutionize the way we do combat search and rescue."
Current search and rescue efforts rely on a single radio transmitter that is only effective if friendly forces are within its line-of-sight. These systems can be monitored and located by enemy forces, and the signals can be jammed easily. Because of the limitations involved with the combat search-and-rescue radios, rescue efforts often involve high-risk missions that place equipment and crews in jeopardy.
The CSEL system combines the functionality and power of the SARSAT beacon, a GPS receiver, a SATCOM transceiver and the LOS SAR radio, into a single 31.8 oz. hand-held unit that allows for user identification, precision locating and two-way secure communication.
"Within seconds of being grounded, the survivor-evader has the ability to press one button and immediately provide his ID and location to a UHF base station," Albert said. The system then delivers a message to an online workstation and returns an acknowledgement message within minutes of activation.
"As a crew member, just knowing somebody heard me the minute I went down gives you a warm fuzzy," said Maj. Brenda Brennan, a requirements officer and navigator at Air Combat Command. "The big thing, though, is the low probability of intercept and the low probability of detection. Right now the enemy can spot you as quickly as the friendly forces," she said.
The CSEL system's architecture has three segments: -- the user equipment contains a multi-function, hand-held software reprogrammable radio; -- the satellite communication segment incorporates four worldwide UHF base stations providing two-way secure messaging and location; -- the ground segment contains the Joint Search and Rescue Center software application which allows command and control interface with other government systems.
"(Currently) the rescue forces have to do a lot of planning prior to launching the aircraft," Brennan said. "Now, this is going to save so much time, they'll be launched so much faster. (With CSEL), I feel 100 percent more confident of being rescued."
(by Staff Sgt. Cynthia Miller,Air Force Print News)
