This poster is from a set of 39 developed for an exhibition by MRATHS (Malvern Radar And Technology History Society) and sponsored by MHDC’s Route to the Hills initiative in Summer 2016.
Click to enlarge
Non Communications Electronic Support System (ESM)
In 1976, Malvern became the focus for all Army Electronic Warfare Research and Project Support. Shortly after in 1977, 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) was formed in Germany with the mission to provide Commander 1st British Corps with electronic warfare support. In order to provide the right equipment, General Staff Requirement (GSR) 3735 was drafted and the Malvern EW section provided support to the GSR, wrote the specification and gave technical advice during the contract.
The Beady Eye system had to detect, identify and position fix non communication emitters (ie Radars)
The system comprised 3 ESM intercept stations reporting to a control station and a broad band jammer. The contract was awarded to a consortium of MEL who built the sensors,
Ferranti who built the Control Station
and Marconi who built the Jammer.
The complete system, manned by 14 Signal Regiment, was trialled in the Malvern area in 1981/82. The Malvern Electronic Warfare section ran the trial providing technical support and built a mobile system that could simulate a wide range of enemy radar systems.
It was a major undertaking with over 17 vehicles, 50 Army & 8 RSRE personnel. It proved to be the last time vehicles were allowed on the Malvern Hills.
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Beady Eye went on to serve in the Cold War in Germany gathering intelligence on the deployment of Soviet missile systems and provided support to the fighting troops in the first Gulf War and was not fully replaced until the beginning of the 21st Century.
© MRATHS 2016