During Exercise Balikatan 2023 in the Philippines, the U.S. Marine Corps deployed its Sensing Expeditionary Advanced Base (Sensing EAB) in the country for detection, and subsequent targeting, of enemy forces.
Pictures posted by the Marines show they were using a SIMRAD Halo24 radar for this purpose. The Halo24 radar is a commercial X-band sensor that is sold to powerboat operators to sense vessels out to 48 nautical miles. It delivers a full 360-degree sweep of the surroundings while housed inside a 24-inch dome. Photos taken in the Philippines show the radar mounted on top of a stand. Having such a small radar allows the Sensing EAB to be extremely mobile. Such mobility allows the Sensing EAB to avoid detection, said 1st Lt. Derek Marion, Sensing EAB officer in charge, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The Sensing EAB will also minimize its signature by using conventional signature management principles like camouflage netting for concealment, light and noise discipline, and strategic communications windows. By reducing its signature, Marines can maintain a broad network of persistent awareness. Even though the signature of a Sensing EAB is lowered, its sensing capability remains significant. As emphasized by Master Sgt. Jose Montanez, intelligence chief for the 13th MEU, a Sensing EAB can fill in the gaps in the battlespace and provide pattern-of-life information for awareness and action when required, effectively covering the blind spot of any given area.
“This capability provides a risk-worthy node for maritime forces that can sense and make sense, aid the maritime common operating picture, and support kill web resiliency,” stated Col. Samuel Meyer, commanding officer, 13th MEU. “They are expeditionary, low-signature, and relatively low-cost enablers that mitigate risk to forces, while enabling their combat power. This capability will be irreplaceable in employing the combined power of the joint force in a future fight against a peer adversary.”
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