Rohde & Schwarz Unveils R&S MP007 Tactical DF System

By Richard Scott 

Rohde & Schwarz (Munich, Germany) has debuted a new man-portable tactical direction finding (DF) system designed to provide fast analysis and precise localization of signals between 9 MHz and 8 GHz.

Given the designation R&S MP007, the equipment – covering spectrum ranging from high frequency to modern mobile communications and radar bands – is designed to span the gap between high-end accuracy and portable flexibility.

According to Rohde & Schwarz, the R&S MP007 system has been designed for a range of DF applications, from spectrum awareness and emissions control to in-field interference localization, area and personnel protection, search and rescue operations, and early anomaly detection. When combined with the Rohde & Schwarz software environment, signals can be visualized directly on maps, multiple units can be networked for automatic triangulation, alerting can be configured and task sequences automated.

R&S MP007 combines a robust portable receiver (R&S PR200) inside an impact-resistant transport case with a high-performance compact VHF/UHF DF antenna (R&S ADD507). The system achieves a typical DF accuracy of approximately 2° RMS, and offers a real-time bandwidth of up to 40 MHz and a panorama scan rate of up to 60 GHz/s.

The complete system can be assembled entirely without tools and has a total weight of around 27 kg. Specific configurations for backpack operation, including a mast and adapter – as well as variants for vehicle mounting with longer RF cables and a magnetic antenna mount – allow for different operational profiles without requiring complex conversions. The optional R&S HE400 handheld antenna is also available for near-field homing.

The power supply relies on two hot-swappable batteries with integrated charging electronics, which provide up to eight hours of operating time in dual mode. Uninterrupted operation can be maintained by swapping batteries during operation.

Networking of multiple R&S MP007 systems via two integrated Ethernet interfaces makes it possible to calculate the location of radio transmitters online and display the results on a digital map. One interface is for system control, while the second enables integration with customer-provided IP networks such as tactical radios.