Effective battlefield communication is essential for strategic command and control, especially in environments with advanced electronic warfare (EW) threats. HF communication remains a crucial layer in the ecosystem due to its resilience against conventional communication interference.

Key HF Communication Techniques

1. NVIS Propagation: Utilises Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) to refract HF signals back to earth, leveraging the ionosphere's F layer. NVIS operates within the 2-10 MHz range, requiring careful selection of transmission frequency between the Lowest Useable Frequency (LUF) and Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF). Antennas like the RWD125 and RWD1000 from Alaris Antennas are optimised for NVIS, offering reliable signal refraction even in challenging conditions.
2. Ground Wave Propagation: Uses vertically polarised monopole antennas with Automatic Tuning Units (ATUs) for close-range, ground-conducted communication. Ground conductivity greatly affects range, with solutions like Alaris's HF5M supporting groundwave propagation in vehicular and mobile applications.
3. HF Signal Monitoring and Direction Finding: Monitoring HF signals helps detect and pinpoint emitters. Alaris Antennas provides solutions for both active and passive monitoring, such as the MONO-A0012 whip antenna and the DIPL-A0056-10 for NVIS. Direction-finding HF antennas, including the DF-A0115 and DF-A0049, use hemispherical radiation patterns to estimate signal origins. These systems allow flexible configurations, enabling single-side location estimation with strategic deployment.

Tactical and Strategic Applications

• Long-Distance Communication: HF acts as both a primary and backup communication layer when SATCOM is compromised, ensuring ongoing command and control.
• Tactical Direction-Finding: Alaris Antennas offers groundwave and NVIS DF antennas like the DF-A0016 and DF-A0048-01, providing critical line-of-bearing detection in tactical setups.
• Advanced Ground Solutions: Alaris Antennas supplies simulated array manifold data for various ground types, enhancing deployment effectiveness.

Known for innovation in RF solutions, Alaris Antennas invites inquiries for any HF communications antenna requirements, whether for using or detecting HF spectrum.

Send us an email at [email protected] or contact us on+27 11 034 5300

Download article in PDF format here.