Colonel Belmonte commanded the Brazilian Army’s 9th Communications and Electronic Warfare Battalion until the beginning of this year. The 9th B Com GE is a body created around 10 years ago to provide the necessary support for command and control activities in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, within the scope of SISFRON.
In this work, the COMINT communication system and the IFS data fusion system, both Saab solutions, have been part of the corporation’s activities. The experience gained in this work has supported Col. Belmonte’s new role as a doctrine formulator in the areas of Command and Control, Communications, Electronic Warfare and Cybernetics.
- Tell us about your career in the military
I joined the Army in 1994, at the Army Cadet Preparatory School (EsPCEx) in Campinas, SP. In 1998, I graduated from the Agulhas Negras Military Academy in Resende, Rio de Janeiro, as an aspiring officer in the Communications Corps. I took several courses in military communications, electronic warfare and cybernetics.
Between 2004 and 2013 I commanded three military organizations. The 1st Jungle Communications Platoon, in Boa Vista (Roraima), from 2004 to 2005, the 17th Jungle Communications Platoon (Porto Velho-RO), from 2007 to 2008, the 12th Aeromobile Communications Company (Caçapava-SP), from 2012 to 2013 and, finally, the 9th Communications and Electronic Warfare Battalion (Campo Grande-MS), from December 2020 to January 2023. Since then, I have been formulating the Army’s Communications, Electronic Warfare and Cybernetics Doctrine in Brasilia.
- What is the Battalion’s mission and why was it created?
The mission of the 9th Communications and Electronic Warfare Battalion (9th B Com GE) is to install, operate, maintain and protect communications, electronic warfare and cybernetic systems in support of the preparation and operational deployment of the Western Military Command.
For a long time, the Western Military Command lacked a military organization that could provide the necessary support for command and control activities throughout its area of action, which encompasses the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. Priority was therefore given to setting up the 9th B Com GE, whose capabilities were generated through the SISFRON strategic program, the Integrated Border Monitoring System.
In the 10 years since its creation, it has been possible to obtain the personnel and material capabilities to not only carry out command and control activities, which are fundamental to the exercise, but also to enable the sensing of the entire border strip in the electromagnetic and cyber domains, increasing our society’s sense of security and the deterrent capacity of our Ground Force.
- How do Saab’s Communication Intelligence (COMINT) [PNC1] and Information Fusion System (IFS) [PNC2] solutions contribute to the mission of the 9th B Com GE within the scope of the Western Military Command?
The 9th B Com GE has a wide range of activities, among them the ability to carry out electromagnetic domain sensing and extract relevant data, which after processing, serves as information for decision-making.
Thus, the COMINT (Communication Intelligence) solutions and the IFS (Information Fusion System) data fusion platform, provided by Saab, are of fundamental importance for carrying out this activity. These solutions facilitate and speed up the whole process of building knowledge, automating procedures and supporting the activities carried out by our analysts. Without a doubt, Saab’s solutions have contributed to increasing the combat power of the 9th B Com GE.
- How does your experience and proximity to Saab’s systems contribute to your current role as Doctrine Maker for Communications, Electronic Warfare and Cybernetics?
My current role requires a lot of the knowledge I’ve acquired over these almost 30 years of service in all the activities I’ve carried out, whether in the corps, commanding units or as an instructor at various Army schools.
My experience leading the 9th B Com GE, using Saab solutions, is certainly making my job easier in this new activity. The work carried out at the Electronic Warfare Operations Center (COGE), the centerpiece of the battalion’s electronic warfare activity, with COMINT and IFS solutions, has enabled me to identify best practices and understand the latest developments in this activity.
Thus, the practical and theoretical knowledge acquired facilitates the daily work of updating manuals and guidelines related to the Army’s Electronic Warfare activity. Most importantly, the Doctrine is evolving with primary information on what has been practiced. This is what the 9th B Com GE, through Saab’s solutions, is enabling.
*** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***