IDEX 2021: SIGN4L unveils counter-UAV and RF jammers

SIGN4L, part of the electronic warfare (EW) and intelligence cluster within the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) Edge defence group, unveiled its V-Protect and NavControl-G EW systems at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2021 held in Abu Dhabi from 21–25 February.

A company press release described V-Protect as a high-power active and reactive jamming system designed for mobile applications to help block terrestrial radio frequency (RF) technologies and portable satellite communications systems.

It can be used against systems operating in the 3 Hz–3,000 GHz bandwidth typically used for remote-control applications, as well as the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bandwidths used by Wi-Fi-enabled technologies. This can include commercially available unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which may use remote-control or Wi-Fi bandwidths for control and the transmission of video to a mobile device.

The press release also stated that the V-Protect system can jam mobile telephone frequencies, which are generally in the higher 900–1,900 mHz range.

V-Protect is designed to be installed in a sports utility vehicle and protect it as it moves. The system uses 16 channels and power amplifiers to extend is range and capability across the spectrum of threats that it is intended to counter. A video released by Edge shows the system jamming a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) and the press release stated that it can be used against UAVs.

NavControl-G is offered as a pure counter-UAV system. It has been designed to prevent UAVs from gaining access to a specific area by mimicking GPS signals to introduce position and timing inaccuracies, “thereby taking control of non-cooperative unmanned vehicles”, according to the press release.

The shock-proof container used to transport NavControl-G enables installation of the system at fixed locations or field deployment as required, the company said.