Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • SPX CommTech launches latest COMINT 953 RF Receiver

Defence Events

SPX CommTech launches latest COMINT 953 RF Receiver

SPX CommTech, formed by TCI and ECS, today launched its next generation 953 Communications Intelligence (COMINT) Radio Frequency (RF) Receiver for identification, direction-finding and tracking of hostile RF signals to support COMINT and Counter-UAS tactical operations.

Image courtesy SPX CommTech

It will be exhibited for the first time next month at DSEI, Excel London (12th-15th September 2023).

The new 953 COMINT RF Receiver builds on the success of its predecessor and now boasts reduced size and weight, but with greater power. This makes the device portable for dismounted operations and easily mounted on a vehicle to support mobility operations. For example, it can be carried to an elevated position in a dismounted role, such as a tactical position only accessible on foot or on top of a high-rise building, to ensure the antenna is situated at height for optimum signal detection and increased range.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

The 953 COMINT RF Receiver performs continuous, unmanned, remote and real-time signal collection up to 80MHz bandwidth across a frequency of up to 40GHz for signal monitoring, collection, and direction-finding. This bandwidth delivers a sweet spot between monitoring sufficient signal breadth and amplitude to ensure quality and accuracy in identifying threats.

The 953 COMINT RF Receiver is powered with removable hot-swappable batteries for round-the-clock use. The new compact chassis is IP-67 rated to withstand temperatures up to 50°C to deliver full operational capability in extreme hostile climatic environments. It also boasts increased removable storage of up to 2 TB for enhanced data capture.

Graeme Forsyth, Counter-UAS Product Manager at SPX CommTech said: “All around the world, heightened political, military and societal tension, and the growing use of electronic warfare, demonstrates the unparalleled importance of managing and understanding the RF spectrum today. Threat analysis and response are critical to global security, so we are excited to welcome the next generation product of our successful RF range, currently used across 20 countries.”

The 953 COMINT RF Receiver is powered by SPX CommTech’s well-renowned Blackbird software application, which detects, identifies, direction-finds and tracks signals of interest to support, find, fix and strike operations, and mitigate electronic warfare threats. It also tracks the RF emission of UAVs and their controllers or Data Links to support counter-responses. Blackbird can record the signal environment for look-back analysis without interrupting the current mission. It simplifies the collection task and can trigger automated actions and support unattended operations.

Utilising part of the 953 COMINT RF Receiver, Blackbird also uses geolocation to enable defence teams to visualise the location of the frequencies for improved intelligence-gathering and threat management. Blackbird’s intuitive point-and-click user experience suits all skill levels and is an evolution of the proven intuitive interface in previous models. This ensures minimal training requirements for existing customers while enabling new users to master the system quickly.

The new 953 COMINT RF Receiver is backwards compatible with previous COMINT versions and other technologies from SPX CommTech, for cost avoidance, uninterrupted service and seamless scalability for our users. It can also be integrated with open-source or customer-supplied mapping and other integrations.

The 953 COMINT RF Receiver is available today and current COMINT models in service with customers will continue to be supported by SPX CommTech.

Advertisement
ODU RT

 

 

 

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
BAE Systems to modernise Advanced Defensive System for USAF U-2

Defence

BAE Systems to modernise Advanced Defensive System for USAF U-2

17 March 2026

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by Robins Air Force Base in Georgia to support and sustain the AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System (ADS) for the US Air Force (USAF) U-2 Dragon Lady surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

Investment in Scottish defence industry helps secure export deals

Defence

Investment in Scottish defence industry helps secure export deals

17 March 2026

Investment in Scotland's defence industry has directly supported £1.1 billion in inward investment with defence firm Thales, securing export deals whilst creating and sustaining over 500 jobs.

Lt Gen Hamilton to serve as British Army’s DCGS

Defence

Lt Gen Hamilton to serve as British Army’s DCGS

17 March 2026

DE&S CEO Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton will be the British Army’s next Deputy Chief of the General Staff (DCGS)

ODU joins the UN Global Compact

Aerospace Defence Security Space

ODU joins the UN Global Compact

17 March 2026

Manufacturer of connector systems, ODU, has joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest sustainability and corporate responsibility initiative.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Thales and Faculty evaluate synthetic data assurance for Defence AI

Defence

Thales and Faculty evaluate synthetic data assurance for Defence AI

17 March 2026

Thales and Faculty have published a new white paper on synthetic data assurance for Defence AI, setting out why synthetic data is increasingly being used when real operational data is scarce, sensitive, or difficult to share and why 'looks realistic' is not a reliable basis for trust.

SEA awarded Lockheed Martin Canada RCD implementation support contract

Defence

SEA awarded Lockheed Martin Canada RCD implementation support contract

16 March 2026

Lockheed Martin Canada has awarded SEA Canada, part of SEA Group (a Cohort plc Group company), a multiyear contract to support Lockheed Martin in the project implementation phase of the River-class Destroyer (RCD) programme.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner