Description of the tech on the EP-3E plane... the SCSS part sounds interesting (if it really works as advertised, that is):
SCSS: Electronics Surveillance
In the area of electronics surveillance, the key system the Chinese want from this aircraft is its Story Classic Surveillance System (SCSS) built, according to at least one source, exclusively to meet NSA standards and needs. SCSS is the most sophisticated electronics surveillance and communications reception technology ever constructed.
Get this. "It has the ability to intercept and decode transmissions. It can locate the source of the transmissions and automatically translate from ANY language into English. Just imagine, it can translate from Mandarin, or presumably even Lakota Sioux perhaps?. Interestingly, it employs very short and undetectable carrier wave energy transmissions that can even be bounced off of China's own satellites, undetectedly.
According to a TV news item, it can pick up computer traffic, monitor all telephone and fax communications, as well as all long wave band transmissions EVEN those emanating to and from submerged moving vehicles like submarines and submerged stationary outposts.
It compares to the Echelon surveillance system in power and capability except that Echelon's encroachment as it gathers intelligence is detectable while the SCSS encroachment is invisible to monitoring devices and is, therefore, undetectable.
In short, this device can undetectably intercept any electronics communications generated anywhere on the earth's surface, underneath the ocean's surface, and even from satellites. SCSS is estimated to be 10 to 15 years ahead of any similar Chinese and Russian technology. Awesome and sublime!
Oops.
theinquirer.net
(Fair site, BTW: spin-off of theregister.co.uk but plans to become more general tech rather than IT). |
