A US F-15 fighter jet was downed in Southern Iran early afternoon local time on April 3 Friday amid the ongoing war of US and Israel with Iran.
One of the crew members of the jet was rescued leaving the other one missing.
The US and Iran were in a race to locate the missing crew member while Iran declared rewards for the crew of the downed jet.
A search and rescue effort was under way to find the second crew, a Weapons Systems Officer (WSO, often pronounced `Wizzo’).
A WSO is a commissioned aircrew member typically sitting in the rear seat of fighter aircraft like the F-15E or F/A-18F. He is responsible for managing sensors, radar and weapon systems.
The rescue of crew members of a downed jet is one of the most critical and time-sensitive operations known as Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR).
The WSO was rescued after two days but what was the small device that helped save his life?
The missing crew was kept safe and connected through a small gadget called Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL), a specialised, highly durable and encrypted communication device.
It allowed him to send secure text messages such as location updates and receive instructions without voice communication that could reveal his position to Iranian forces.
The missing crew demonstrated this cutting-edge military search and rescue equipment deep within Iran by hiding himself for 48 hours in hostile area and sending encrypted signals via this satellite-linked survival gadget that allowed rescuers to track him undetected.
The gadget, usually placed close to the chest or upper waist for easy access, is made to resist the powerful pressures of ejection and start sending encrypted data right away.
It is extremely difficult for adversarial electronic warfare systems to detect since it constantly transmits position coordinates and short encrypted communications using quick frequency-hopping signals.
Built by Boeing, the CSEL is designed to be both robust and functional under pressure. Its battery may last up to 21 days in standby mode and it can function even after being submerged in water up to 10 metres deep.
It can be used under pressure, in the dark and even with flight gloves on because of its purposefully straightforward interface.
The device has an inside antenna for satellite communication in addition to a short external antenna for line-of-sight communication. The user can install an extra external antenna if needed to enhance the signal in crowded areas.
The device’s capacity to send pre-programmed encrypted signals like “injured,” “enemy nearby,” or “ready for extraction” is one of its main advantages. This eliminates the need for vocal communication which could reveal the user’s location.
Rescue teams can also give it instructions including how to go in the direction of extraction spots.
The gadget is linked to the aircraft’s navigation system prior to flights enabling it to automatically preload intelligence data and coordinates.
It connects to military satellites allowing the pilot to remain covert and silent while providing rescue crews with real-time data.
It only switches modes when evacuation is near, enabling aircraft or helicopters to lock onto the precise location.
To put it another way, the pilot is not alone even when he is behind enemy lines since he is digitally connected to the entire rescue network without disclosing his location.
