Black Surprises (USAF can take control of enemy missile launchers, radars, etc.)

aviationnow.com ^ | January, 2007 | David A. Fulghum, Michael A. Dornheim & William B. Scott

[steve86]

Other, more contemporary Senior programs named by Arkin reveal and track the Air Force's growing interest in and development of the new field of computer network warfare and electronic attack, which include Senior Keystone (related to classified information warfare) and Senior Suter. However, the Air Force's theme remains the same--penetrating the enemy's defenses.

Senior Suter is a Big Safari-managed special access program. Big Safari itself is a shadowy Air Force unit that has developed small numbers of specialized reconnaissance systems, including drones, in what are often classified programs. The Suter technology was developed during the last several years by BAE Systems and involves invading enemy communications networks and computer systems, particularly those associated with integrated air defense systems (AW&ST Aug. 16, 2004, p. 24; Nov. 4, 2002, p. 30). Suter 1 allowed U.S. operators to monitor what enemy radars could see. The capability enables U.S. forces to assess the effectiveness of their stealth systems or terrain-masking tactics. Suter 2 permits U.S. operators to take control of enemy networks as system managers and actually manipulate the sensors, steering them away from penetrating U.S. aircraft. Suter 3 was tested last summer to add the ability to invade the links to time-critical targets, such as battlefield ballistic missile launchers or mobile surface-to-air missile launchers. Aircraft involved in the Suter programs include the EC-130 Compass Call, RC-135 Rivet Joint and F-16CJ strike aircraft specialized for suppression of enemy air defenses.

Information operations and computer network attack programs are now considered the military's most closely guarded projects, surpassing even new stealth advances.

[TruthNtegrity]

Have you noticed the silence from those who actually know?

That's because they can "neither confirm nor deny".

Those of us who value our clearances know to keep our mouths shut.

[GAB-1955]

I wrote a scenario for a novel in which Israel did something similar to the control chips for an Iranian missile. Instead of the missile hitting the secret command bunker of the Israeli Defense Forces, it stove in the Al-Aqba Mosque.

[semaj]

Unless the integrated system is running in a fully automated mode, it will never work. The TO still has to physically press the FIRE NOW button.

[Interesting Times]

You just can't trust anybody these days...

[miliantnutcase]

Even if the enemy knew about there is nothing they could possibly do to stop it besides pulling their equipment off the battlefield.

[Kevmo]

Bump for later reading

[xusafflyer]

"EC-130 Compass Call, RC-135 Rivet Joint "

I flew on both of these airframes from 94-98.

[Rembrandt]

"I have VietNam era F-4 (Navy Phantom) pilot friend that tells of flying in the same space with an EA-6B (or maybe it was an E-2 Hawkeye?) and they were joking about cababilities.

The 6B jock asked my friend his call sign....and immediately his radar screen went blank as his callsign was spelled out on its face."

Make that an EA 3B.

Stupid thing for the op in the AWACS plane to do, but still funny.

Green Lantern

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Then again, for how long can you keep a spoof secret?

Generally, after you've buzzed the tower at the enemy airbase and bombed the crap out of the aircraft parking area, he'll figure out that SOMETHING is going on. :)

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Unless the integrated system is running in a fully automated mode, it will never work. The TO still has to physically press the FIRE NOW button.

The idea behind the Senior Suter program is to get him to press--or not press--the FIRE switch according to our will, not his.

[B-Chan]

And people wonder why Adama wouldn't allow networked computers aboard Galactica. Wireless netcracking is how the Cylons won the war!