Guardrail Common Sensor (GRCS) Payloads (MIP)

Abstract

The Guardrail Common Sensor (GRCS) is an airborne Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Collection and Location System capable of providing Tactical Commanders Near-Real Time intelligence. It provides a persistent capability to detect, locate and classify/identify critical targets with a relevant degree of timeliness and accuracy. GRCS is assigned to two (2) United States (U.S.) Army Intelligence and Security Command's Aerial Exploitation Battalions, providing Aerial Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (AISR) support to combatant commanders. In accordance with the Army's AISR 2020 strategy, the Army's Acquisition Objective/Army's Procurement Objective (AAO/APO) is 19 RC-12X; seven (7) fielded to 3rd MI BN; seven (7) fielded to the 204th MI BN, and five (5) pilot trainers to support Force Generation. The five (5) trainers are not equipped with Primary Mission Equipment (PME). GRCS Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Research Development Technology & Evaluation (RDT&E) funding request in the amount of $3.996 million supports GRCS advanced signal enhancement efforts, development and testing of the signal enhancement infrastructure for GRCS updated SIGINT sensor capabilities. GRCS is the only Army AISR system that currently provides extended range COMINT and ELINT capabilities to support long range targeting of near-peer threats in an A2AD environment. RDTE and procurement funding currently planned will address obsolescence issues for critical SIGINT and ELINT capabilities on the GRCS platform. These investments ensure GRCS AISR support in the A2AD environment is not impacted, which would prevent critical intelligence collection at large standoff which is needed to address long range targeting of near-peer threats and maintain system relevancy.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: EH7_0305206A_7_2040_PB_2021

Tags

Readers

• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.