The Bundeswehr recently received the last of twelve mobile protected communications reconnaissance vehicles (MoGeFA) on order. The general contractor Plath handed over the vehicles with the reconnaissance systems to the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the German Armed Forces (BAAINBw) on schedule.
The modern reconnaissance systems for signal-detecting reconnaissance (Signals Intelligence, SIGINT) are integrated into the all-terrain, protected vehicle 6×6 Yak and consist of elements from the companies Elettronica as well as Innosystec and Procitec. The latter are independent companies within the Plath Group. Rheinmetall is also among those involved in the project and is responsible for the vehicle share. Plath S&I coordinated the installation of the hardware and software systems by those involved and set up the system by integrating the components.
MoGeFA is deployed in squads of three vehicles in the Cyber and Information Space Electronic Warfare Battalions to cover the entire electronic spectrum. This is used to determine complete radio situation images in operationally relevant frequency ranges on behalf of the Strategic Reconnaissance Command. The recorded radio signals can be assigned to the place of their origin and to user types based on their type. In the military field, assignment to management levels is possible. This helps to recognize and follow the opponent's structures, movements and intentions. Since it is not possible to distinguish between civil and military radio traffic, special precautions were required to maintain data protection.
During operations, MoGeFA makes an important reconnaissance contribution to situational awareness and directly supports the conduct of operations during operations. This is of particular importance at the beginning of surgeries and during high intensity surgeries. In this way, MoGeFA also makes a direct contribution to protecting its own forces.
MoGeFA erfüllt am Boden eine ähnliche Aufgabe wie das luftgestützte Systeme ISIS (Integrated SIGINT System), für das seit Jahren ein Träger gesucht wird. Das ausdauernde Aufklärungssystem „Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System“ (PEGASUS) sollte zunächst in die unbemannte Euro Hawk integriert werden. Nachdem die Euro Hawk nicht wie gefordert im europäischen Luftraum fliegen konnte, wurde Vorhaben gestoppt. Eine Realisierung mit der nachfolgend ausgewählten ebenfalls unbemannten Triton, einer Weiterentwicklung der Euro Hawk, musste aus dem gleichen Grund erfolglos abgebrochen werden.
It is currently being investigated whether the manned Bombardier Global 6000 business aircraft can be used as a carrier for long-range airborne surveillance and reconnaissance (SLWÜA).
On the ground, the carrier used is the Yak, a class 3 protected command and function vehicle (GFF), introduced between 2004 and 2017. The Yak, based on the Duro, was adapted to the needs of the Bundeswehr by Rheinmetall as the general contractor. The Bundeswehr uses 175 vehicles with different mission equipment (medical services, military police, security, explosive ordnance disposal, observation and reconnaissance, management, border surveillance as well as transport and logistics). Twelve of these were made available for MoGeFA.
The multi-purpose vehicles, which weigh seven tons (empty weight), can carry a payload of 5.5 tons. The 6-cylinder Cummins diesel engine with an output of 184 kW drives all six wheels of the off-road Yak via an Allison 2500S automatic transmission and enables a top speed of over 100 km/h on the road.
Gerhard Heiming
Related topics
Plath spins off business units Reconnaissance drones for the Corvette K130 Framework agreement for UTF logistics vehicles greatly expanded Relocatable data management for international assignments Modernization of the Bundeswehr IT infrastructure Mobile communications for the battlefield New thermal imaging sights for the Marder armored personnel carrier Modernization of the British NBC Fuchs armored reconnaissance vehicle SINA framework agreement extended