MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Virginia -- The Marine Corps will soon receive a new communication jamming system that will give Marines the operational edge in expeditionary maneuver warfare, operations ashore and future cyber roles.
The Communication Emitter Sensing and Attack System II, or CESAS II, is the Corps’ sole high power, ground-mobile electronic attack asset that gives the Marine Air-Ground Task Force the capability to detect, deny and disrupt threat communications. The upgrade makes the new system lighter and doubles the frequency range.
“Marines need to be able to rapidly and cooperatively disrupt, deny and degrade enemy communication systems by using nonlethal and lethal attacks on the ground,” said Heather Place, project officer for CESAS in MCSC’s Marine Intelligence. “CESAS II is designed to do just that by jamming commonly used communication frequencies.”
When integrated on a vehicle platform, the CESAS II weighs roughly half that of the legacy system, down from 1,300 to 670 pounds. The system can also be scaled to a core man-portable size, which includes the cases, laptop and cables weighing 180 pounds in total.
“CESAS II provides stationary and on-the-move capabilities, and is lightweight, modular, scalable, reliable, cost effective, ruggedized and economically sustainable,” said Place. “The system is capable of conducting static, stationary and vehicle mobile electronic warfare operations in support of the MAGTF and joint force commanders.”
The system integrates onto radio battalion vehicles, specifically the Humvee. Future plans include expanding the capability to other vehicle platforms such as the Light Armored Vehicle and Join Light Tactical Vehicle.
CESAS II covers high frequency, very high frequency and ultra high frequency ranges against enemy emitters using modern modulation schemes. It can be used singularly or in combination with lethal fires, as mission, situation and threat dictate.
“CESAS II is a force multiplier that enhances the radio battalion’s ability to support and execute the MAGTF Information Warfare plan,” Place said.
The system is on track for fielding later this year.
MCSC’s program office for Military Intelligence provides the Marine Corps with systems for the collection, analysis, utilization and dissemination of intelligence required by Marine commanders and MAGTF intelligence units.