Russians Interferring with more than the US Elections!

11175 kHz Russian CIS 12 transmission heard on a South African Remote SDR.

For the last several days now major interference has been noted on the US military primary worldwide frequency for their HF-GCS net of 11175 kHz.

Further analysis of the signal show that it is a Russian Military CIS 12 digital transmission. According to Sigidwiki.com (https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/CIS-12)

"CIS-12 (Also known as MS5, FIRE, AT-3004D, or AT-3104D) is a 12-tone PSK Russian military multi-channel modem. It features scrambled voice/ data-communication at a maximum data rate of 4800 bps. Each subcarrier transmits at 120 Bd. There is 200 Hz of spacing between each subcarrier.
This waveform is transmitted by the AT-3004D and the newer AT-3104D military modems in use by the Russian Military. These modems were designed to have many different devices plugged into them to form the modem’s input – mo ften teleprinters unique to the different military services and civilian agencies that use them, and also, vocoders and speech encipherment systems, but all are transmitted in the same fashion.  A characteristic trait of this signal is the carrier signal located +3300 Hz on the right side of the signal."

11175 kHz Russian CIS 12 transmission monitored on a southern Greece remote SDR.

I am sure that DoD and the HFGCS op on the 11175 kHz console at Andrews are not a happy campers these days.

Interesting times on HFGCS

Most ute monitors usually do not pay any attention to the message traffic that is passed on the DoD JCS HFGCS HF radio system. We have Emergency Action Messages (EAMs) and Skyking aka Foxtrot message traffic (see my detailed discussion of these messages on this blog at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/p/what-is-emergency-action-message-or-eam.html).

Recently things have become more interesting. Instead of a 3-character message that has been the staple of the Foxtrot messages since forever, they have now started using creative code words. The last three days Foxtrot message traffic have consisted of  Springstein, Santana, and now this morning Hendrix.

It also looks like we have gone back to our Cold War roots and have started using tac code words calls for various HFGCS stations when transmitting these EAM and Foxtrot message traffic when transmitting on this net. Prior to this you would have heard Andrews, Offutt, McClellan or one of the other HFGCS stations worldwide using their location as the identifier.

In addition, we have some other HF RF indicators being seen throughout the HF spectrum that would indicate that things are changing in the mil HF world.

So who says that HF is dead hasn't either turned on a receiver lately or monitored the right frequencies.

If you want to hear what is going on the HFGCS netork, check out my freq list at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2006/05/joint-chiefs-of-staff-hf-gcs-network.html

Maybe someone four years ago didn't have their foreign policy stuck in the 1980s.

Chief Sends

USAF HF Global Communications System (HFGCS) published frequencies

From time to time monitors will pop up and ask about the primary frequencies used by the USAF HFGCS network or someone will publish an old frequency (prior to WARC-92 Aero OR band 3 kHz realignment). I've even still see references in some various online lists to the now no longer active station at MacDill AFB as part of the Global network.

So to set the record straight, here are the latest "published" primary frequencies and stations direct from the Department of Defense for the HFGCS network.

HFGCS is the Department of Defense’s high power, high frequency, over-the-horizon long haul communication system. It's global network operated under the umbrella of the Joint Chief's of Staff and consist of ground stations that provides automated and operator assisted voice services, data transmission and an HF e-mail capability that has an interface to both the classified (SIPRnet) and unclassified (NIPRnet) email networks.

The Radio Equipment High Frequency Global Communications System (HFGCS) is a cost-effective, networked solution providing interoperable voice and data communications for strategic and tactical forces. HFGCS provides near-global, beyond line-of-sight command and control (C2) communications to aircrews, ground troops, naval operations and control stations. The Air Force (AF) is the executive agent for HFGCS per Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) direction.

This Command and Control/National Security System (C2/NSS) is the Department of Defense's (DOD's) only high-power HF C2 network. HFGCS serves as the primary C2 resource for Air Mobility Command (AMC) cargo and tanker aircraft. The HFGCS program supports Mystic Star (Presidential communications), the United States Air Force's Global HF System, Defense Communications System (DCS) HF Entry, US Navy High Command (HICOM) Network and other US government high-power HF missions.

The HFGCS supports war plans and the daily operational requirements of the following organizations: White House Communications Agency (WHCA); JCS; US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM); the National Military Command Center with Emergency Action Message distribution; AMC Special Air Mission (SAM) fleet communications; Air Combat Command (ACC); Air Intelligence Agency (AIA); Air Force Space Command (AFSPC); United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). This program also provides radio support to other governmental organizations such as Civil Air Patrol, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration and the State Department.

HFGCS is a fully integrated world-wide C2 high-frequency (2-30 Megahertz) networked radio communications capability consisting of 13 remote radio stations and 10 remote console stations with 15 located OCONUS. 

Remote radio station locations include Joint Base (JB) Andrews (MD), Offutt AFB (NE), Beale AFB (CA) aka West Coast, Elmendorf AFB (AK), Hawaii (Hickam AFB), Guam, Yokota (Japan), Puerto Rico, Lajes (Azores), Ascension Island, RAF Croughton (UK), Sigonella (Sicily), and Diego Garcia.

Network remote consoles are located at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (NAS) (WA), Sigonella NAS (Sicily), Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) (HI), Wahiawa Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) (HI), Jacksonville NAS (FL), Misawa AB (Japan), Patuxent River NAS (MD), North Island NCTS (CA), Kadena AB (Okinawa, Japan), and AFSPC Eastern Test Range (FL).  All stations are networked back to control stations located at Joint Base Andrews (MD) and Grand Forks AFB (ND).

You will find additional information on this system including discrete frequencies on this blog at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2006/05/joint-chiefs-of-staff-hf-gcs-network.html

You will find additional information on the HFGCS ALE network on this blog at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2006/08/hf-gcs-scope-command-hf-ale-network.html

So the next time you see someone list a frequency like 11243 or 13201 or list MacDill as part of this global comm network, now you that you are dealing with very old updated information.

Rural communications site has global mission

I have a complete frequency profile on the HFGCS on this blog, click here. You can learn more about the HFGCS ALE network exclusively here on MMP by checking out our JCS HFGCS Scope Command HF ALE Network frequency profile.


One of eight directional rotatable log periodic antennas stands tall behind a cornfield, Nov. 5, 2009, near Elkhorn, Neb. The directional rotatable log periodic antennas can rotate 360 degrees. A crew of telecommunications specialists maintained by the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., monitor the antennas, which support a wide variety of missions from executive levels of government to NASA. (U.S. Air Force photo/Josh Plueger)

by Ryan Hansen, 55th Wing Public Affairs

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFNS) -- Although it's location in the middle of a cornfield on a quiet country road may seem cutoff from society, in reality the Elkhorn Communication Site reaches beyond almost every border -- worldwide.

Situated 35 miles northwest of Offutt Air Force Base, this 50-year-old rural communications site is one of the 13 stations around the world that comprise the High Frequency Global Communication System. Together, the sites provide the Air Force and the Department of Defense with rapid, reliable, two-way communications every day of the year.

"A lot of people don't even know we're out here," said Brady Bach, a telecommunications specialist with the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron. "Even members of the communications squadron on base have no idea where we're located a lot of the time."


Brady Bach monitors the antennas at the Elkhorn and Scribner Communication sites Nov. 5, 2009, from a detached facility located near Elkhorn, Neb. Mr. Bach is a telecommunications specialist with the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. (U.S. Air Force photo/Josh Plueger)

But while their location may be at times a mystery, their mission certainly is not. The HFGCS serves as one of the main communications systems for many U.S. government agencies. This includes the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Central, Pacific and Strategic Commands, and U.S. State Department as well as the president.

"When the president is in the air, he has 24/7 communication thanks to our system," said Dave Clingerman, site chief and telecommunications specialist with the 55th SCS. "HF is one of the most reliable communications going."

In addition to its usual global customers, the HFGCS recently went out of this world to provide communication support to NASA as it worked to get astronauts safely back to earth following a trip to the international space station.

"I am amazed as to the number of agencies that use our system on a daily basis and more are added yearly," said Duane Swigert, a telecommunications specialist with the 55th SCS. "If only we had the time to just sit there and listen to those conversations -- that would be exciting."

Each HFGCS site around the globe has control of 6,000 square miles of coverage. But when a station is having technical difficulties or is down for maintenance, the other sites have the ability to step in and assist until it's fully operational again. And with the Elkhorn Communications Site being located in the central part of the United States, it is called upon frequently because of its flexibility.

"Sitting right here, we can support either coast," Mr. Clingerman said. "It's truly seamless to our customers."

Spread out over 386 acres just outside of Elkhorn, with an additional 156 acres in Scribner, Neb., the communications site features 32 antennas. This includes 15 high frequency, eight directional rotatable log periodic and nine omni directional antennas.

"They want as little interference as possible, which is why we're out here (in the country)," Mr. Clingerman said. "The receiver site is in Scribner because we don't want transmitters right next to them. The system puts out 4,000 watts, so you don't want that transmitting right on the front end of a receiver."

While the site is now maintained by a small staff of four, it was at one time a bustling hub of activity with more than 100 Airmen performing the mission.

"Technology was a big part (of the downsizing) as was budget cuts," Mr. Swigert said.

"The old equipment required a lot more people to maintain it, so what used to take a lot of bodies to perform the mission now only takes four," said Mr. Clingerman.

However, with the small staff, the mission doesn't suffer. With their diverse communications backgrounds these four can easily handle the system and its four technologies: radio, telephone, networking and tech control.

"We've got a bunch of experience and we're a very cohesive team here," Mr. Bach said. "We all have our strengths and we're all fully qualified to perform the mission."

"Diversity (in experience and knowledge) here is the key reason we are able to keep this system running at a nearly 100 percent operational status year round," Mr. Swigert said. "We each bring something important to the table that makes things work smoothly, like a well oiled machine, as they say."

While the system plays an important role in communications for organizations and personnel around the world, it has yet to reach its maximum capability. In the future, the Elkhorn Communications Site may see digital HF, airborne networking as well as possibly integrating with the Joint Tactical Radio System.

"When other satellites go out, HF is always around," Mr. Clingerman said. "More users are coming on board with our system, people are starting to realize what it can do and it's a technology that isn't going to go away."

So while this unit may be out of mind and out of sight for the most part, there's no doubt about its contribution to the mission.

"I have had folks tell me that this place is the Air Force's best kept secret," Mr. Swigert said, "and I would have to agree."

Dave Clingerman explains how he monitors antennas for the Elkhorn and Scribner Communication Sites Nov. 5, 2009, from a detached facility located near Elkhorn, Neb. Mr. Clingerman is a telecommunications specialist with the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. (U.S. Air Force photo/Josh Plueger)

Grand Forks Air Force Base has new backup communication mission

To my regular readers: In a story I first broke back on November 21, 2008, on this blog (see http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2008/11/breaking-news-grand-forks-afb-to-get-hf.html), it looks like Grand Forks is now officially operational, so time to keep a sharp eye on the primary HFGCS freqs for their appearance. I did report back on 24 Apr 2009 a brief appearance of Grand Forks on the HF-GCS (see http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2009/04/hf-gcs-grand-forks-is-now-on-air.html). So which HF milcom enthusiast will be the first to report them OTA now that they are operational? Are they a part of the JCS HFGCS Scope Command HF ALE network? If so what is their new ALE address?

Complete frequencies for these two HFGCS networks can be found here on the MMP blog at Joint Chiefs of Staff HFGCS Network and click here for the HFGCS Scope Command HF ALE Network.

Article from AirForce Times by Dave Kolpack via The Associated Press

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — If the communication system fails at Andrews Air Force Base near the nation’s capitol, airmen in North Dakota will be ready to take over.

The Grand Forks Air Force Base launched a new mission Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for what looks like a big classroom with 25 computer work stations.

Officials say it is much more.

Read the rest of the story at http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/10/ap_airforce_319th_communications_standup_100809/

Joint Chiefs of Staff HFGCS Network - Update

There is a lot of old frequency and callsign lists that float around the internet. One of these old lists involves a U.S. HF military network that has been identified in the past as the GCCS, GHFS, Global, and HF-GCS.

Now it is called the HF Global Communications System (HFGCS) and can have some interesting military aircraft traffic on it from time to time.

The HFGCS System is a worldwide network of high-power HF stations providing air/ground HF command and control radio communications between ground agencies and US military aircraft and ships. Allied military and other aircraft are also provided support IAW agreements and international protocols as appropriate. The HFGCS is not dedicated to any service or command but supports all DoD authorized users on a traffic precedence/priority basis. This is a DoD Joint Chiefs of Staff network and is a high priority service within DoD. When it was first formed under a different nomenclature several years ago, it combined several other high priority nets such as the US Navy Hicom net into this one network.

From the DoD FIH, general services provided by the HFGCS are:

- General Phone Patch and Message Relay Services
- Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) [this is the Scope Command ALE network, see link below]
- HF Data Support
- Command and Control Mission Following
- Emergency Assistance
- Broadcasts [i.e. EAMs and Foxtrot messages etc]
- HF Direction Finding Assistance
- ATC Support
- E-Mail connectivity to NIPRNeT and SIPRNeT

SCOPE Command replaces older high power Global HF equipment. SCOPE Command incorporates the Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) to automate communications. All HFGCS stations transmit and receive equipment is remotely controlled from the Centralized Network Control Station (CNCS) at Andrews AFB, MD.

General Calling. Aircrews use a preliminary call as outlined in ACP-121 US Supp 2
using the collective callsign "MAINSAIL" or the HFGCS station call sign (example: Sigonella Global this is Dark 86 on 11175, OVER). HFGCS operators require approximately 10 seconds (for automated equipment configuration) to respond to calls for service. The HFGCS operator may request the aircraft change to a discrete frequency for improved and/or extended service.

Published Frequency Listing - HFGCS stations operate on “core” frequencies to provide increased "Global" coverage. The published frequency listing does not reflect complete system frequency authorizations. These published frequencies will be used for initial contact, EAM broadcasts, and short-term C2 phone patch and message delivery. Other extended or special services will be moved to each station’s available "discrete" frequencies.

Here is a current list of HFGCS stations and the network's primary frequencies.

Primary Frequencies and Stations (all frequencies in kHz/mode is USB)

Main frequencies: 4724.0 6739.0 8992.0 11175.0 13200.0 15016.0 and 6712.0 (Croughton only)

Andersen AB, Guam; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Ascension Island; Croughton AB, United Kingdom; Diego Garcia NS, Indian Ocean; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Lajes AB, Azores; McClellan, California; (aka West Coast); Offutt AFB, Nebraska; Salinas, Puerto Rico; Sigonella NS, Sicily, Italy; and Yokota AB, Japan.

Some previously reported discrete frequencies include: 4894.0 5708.0 5117.0 6728.0 6731.0 6993.0 7567.0 7690.0 7933.0 8032.0 8058.0 9006.0 9012.0 9025.0 9043.0 10589.0 10648.0 11053.0 11056.0 11118.0 11129.0 11159.0 11180.0 11181.0 11214.0 11220.0 11226.0 11232.0 11269.0 11271.0 11484.0 12087.0 13242.0 13254.0 13440.0 13822.0 13960.0 14497.0 14863.0 14896.0 15042.0 15087.0 15091.0 15095.0 18015.0 20910.0 23265.0

Notes:
The Air Force Eastern Test Range (AFETR) HF Network may be used as a backup to GLOBAL. The net can be contacted on 10780.0 kHz/USB (primary) and 20390.0/USB kHz (secondary) using the call sign of CAPE RADIO. Another backup to the HFGCS is the US Air Force MARS.

HFGCS Scope Command HF ALE Network - Update 23 January 2023

HFGCS ALE Network frequencies USB/ALE (scan channel number): 3137.0 (1) 4721.0 (2) 5708.0 (3) 6721.0 (4) 9025.0 (5) 11226.0 (6) 13215.0 (7) 15043.0 (8) 18003.0 (9) 23337.0 (10) kHz 

 The ALE system used by the JCS HFGCS network is designated MIL-STD-188-141A. You can download a software program developed by Dr. Charles Brain to decode these digital transmissions at http://hflink.com/beta/. You can also use F6CTE's Multipsk program at http://f6cte.free.fr/index_anglais.htm. It is my favorite multimode program and always gets a workout in the Btown Monitoring Post. ALE allows automated ground agency contact by selecting the best station and best frequency without operator interaction. ALE radios make this possible by using a data file that contains frequency, station, and other pertinent information. For ALE radios to operate properly, the radio must have loaded datafile, be turned on in the “automatic” mode, and remain there for the duration of the flight. If the radio is removed from the ALE mode, history tables will require time to rebuild and initial communications may be slightly degraded. Net participating stations, identifiers, and specific frequency assignments used in the HFGCS ALE net:

ADW Andrews AFB, MD USA 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

AED Elmendorf AFB, AK USA 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

CRO RAF Croughton, UK 3137 4721 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

GUA Andersen AFB, Guam 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

HAW Ascension Island 3137 4721 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

HIK Hickam AFB, Hawaii 3137 4721 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

ICZ Sigonella, Sicily Italy 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 

JDG NSF Diego Garcia 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

JNR Salinas, Puerto Rico 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

JTY Yokota AB, Japan 3137 4721 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 

MCC West Coast (McClellan), CA USA 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

MPA Mt. Pleasant, Falkland Island 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

OFF Offutt AFB, NE USA 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

PLA Lajes AB, Azores 3137 4721 5708 6721 9025 11226 13215 15043 18003 23337 

Selected non-HF-GCS stations observed in this net: 

CEF 439AW, Westover AFB, MA 

GBL Global General Address 

GVT Raytheon, Greenville, TX 

IKF NAS Keflavik, Iceland (HF-GCS facility closed) 

OKC Oklahoma City (Tinker AFB), OK 

RIC CAP Region 2 MER/CAP National Technology Center, Richmond, VA 

RSC Rockwell Scope Command Facility, Greenville, TX 

TAG Incirlik AB, Turkey (HF-GCS Facility Closed) 

TOCAVN TOC Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo

WRL Warner-Robins AFB, GA