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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Conduct a Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) operation 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
123534  Conduct a Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) operation 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Air Defence 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Sovereignty of the State 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  15 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to people who are required to operate a Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system in the context of the sovereignty of the state and government law enforcement through a structured scenario. SIGINT refers to collection of radar and communications data for purposes of strategic intelligence and ESM refers to providing support for tactical operations. This unit standard considers the skills and knowledge required to conduct an SIGINT and ESM operation taking all interception, identification, locating, recording, evaluating and disseminating considerations into account.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Intercept transmissions.
  • Identify transmissions.
  • Evaluate emission parameters and content.
  • Disseminate intercepts. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation for this unit standard is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Communication at NQF level 4.
  • Mathematics at NQF level 4.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of electronic emission theory at NQF level 5.
  • Computer skills at NQF level 3.
  • Radio communication skills at NQF level 4. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • Structured scenarios must be based on at least one of the following environments:

    > Ground.
    > Airborne.
    > Sea borne.
  • The structured scenario must also be based on at least one of the following types of operations:

    > Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) either Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and or Electronic Intelligence (ELINT).
    > Electronic Support Measures (ESM) either Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and or Electronic Intelligence (ELINT).
  • All activities must be conducted in accordance with agreed accuracy and time requirements. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Intercept transmissions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A predetermined bandwidth is scanned and searched for relevant transmissions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    System settings are continuously monitored and adjusted for quality of transmissions in accordance with the given task requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Transmissions are evaluated in terms of interception requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Transmission parameters are interpreted in accordance with task requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Requirements include but are not limited to frequency, angle of arrival, modulation, signal strength, pulse width, pulse repetition interval, scan parameters.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Sufficient data or content for the task is recorded within system limitations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Consequences of not recording data correctly are analysed in terms of the impact on the operation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify transmissions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Parameters and content exploitation is measured against prior information. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Prior information may include but is not limited to mission briefings, intelligence, pre-flight data, threat library and reference documents.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Transmissions are identified using mission content or data. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Transmissions include emissions; Mission content or data includes call signs, users, emitter type.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Consequences of not reporting data correctly are analysed in terms of the impact on the operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Emitter positions are determined in accordance with given accuracy requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Accuracy requirements must take system limitations into account.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Evaluate emission parameters and content. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Emissions are analysed in order to determine its relevance according to the task requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Emissions are categorised in terms of task requirements before recording. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Intercepts are evaluated to achieve a full picture of the changing battle space. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Evaluated emissions are measured against prior information. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Prior information may include but is not limited to mission briefings, intelligence, pre-flight data, threat library and reference documents.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Deductions are made to inform decision makers. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Consequences of not evaluating emissions correctly are analysed in terms of the impact on the operation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Disseminate intercepts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Intercepts are relayed to relevant personnel in accordance with organisation policies and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Content security requirements are adhered to in accordance with organisation policies and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Consequences of not disseminating intercepts correctly are analysed in terms of the impact on the operation. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant SETA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider by the relevant SETA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • How to interpret and adhere to operational requirements.
  • How to setup and operate SIGINT and ESM systems.
  • How to interpret mission parameters.
  • How to determine transmitter positions.
  • How to record transmissions.
  • How to evaluate data.
  • Reporting channels. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    The ability of the learner to identify and solve problems through identifying the correct transmissions to interpret. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    The ability of the learner to work effectively with others as a member of a team, group organisation, community is demonstrated through participating in and providing input for the EW operation. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    The ability of the learner to organise and manage him/her self responsibly and effectively is demonstrated through adhering to operational requirements. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The ability of the learner to collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information is demonstrated through categorising data according to operational requirements. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The ability of the learner to communicate effectively in the modes of oral and/or written presentation is demonstrated through disseminating data. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    The ability of the learner to use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and the health of others is demonstrated through operation of SIGINT and ESM systems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    The ability of the learner to demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems is demonstrated through describing the consequences of poor performance. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    The ability of the learner to contribute to own full personal development is demonstrated through working autonomously under stressful conditions. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology
  • Systems means the platform, equipment, personnel and logistics.
  • Data includes COMINT and/or ELINT Data.
  • COMINT means communications intelligence.
  • ELINT means electronic intelligence.
  • Emissions refer to any emissions in the electro-magnetic spectrum.
  • Transmissions are limited to radio and radar frequencies. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  50500   National Diploma: Electronic Warfare  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.