DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
(S//SI//REL) New Processor Boosts Collection Capabilities Against
Asian Satellite
FROM: multiple authors
Unknown
Run Date: 11/20/2006
(TS//SI//REL) This September, NSA and its Australian partner DSD* significantly upgraded their
capability to collect communications from the Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS), a very high-priority
target. The ACeS provides dual-mode GSM/Satellite phone service to 11 million square miles in
Asia, and is a source of intelligence for geolocation, targeting, the Global War on Terrorism
(GWOT), Maritime Interception Operations (MIO), and smuggling. Key targets using ACeS
include terrorists, narcotics dealers, government leadership, and remote-area military.
(TS//SI//REL) A new ACeS communications processor (termed SOLIDTHYME) was delivered and
installed at the DSD Shoal Bay Receiving Station FORNSAT site near Darwin, Australia.
SOLIDTHYME collects all 6,000 channels of the ACeS system (with a capacity of 11,000 phone
calls), detects active channels, and demodulates up to 2,000 active channels based on spot
beam and priority. Processed channels are forwarded to DSD's Headquarters in Canberra for
exploitation.
(TS//SI//REL) SOLIDTHYME's capability to collect up to 2,000 channels represents a major
improvement over the 432-channel capacity of the system it replaces, the IMPROVEOIL QRCsystem. Furthermore, the IMPROVEOIL system required intensive prioritization of spot beams
tasking based on joint Australian/NSA target priorities. SOLIDTHYME, by contrast, requires no
spot beam tasking. Due to spacecraft damage, only 99 of 140 spot beams are currently turned
on and approximately 1200 channels are active. If more than 2,000 channels become active,
SOLIDTHYME will process active channels based on spot beam priority. An initial performance
assessment showed 10-50% more calls on most channels than was the case with IMPROVEOIL,
and higher quality.
(S//SI//REL) Already operational, a full switchover of mission will occur after a one-month burnin period, five months earlier than planned. Decommissioning of IMPROVEOIL will occur in March
2007.
(U) POCs:
S333,
, S333,
S33124,
,
.
,
*(U) Note: DSD = Australia's Defence Signals Directorate
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108