[MilCom] MIL: 8992.0/11175.0 USB - SOPHOMORE; ASSORTED; ACID MAN; and BALL BAT

[Jeff Haverlah]

0426z 28 Mar 25

27 Mar 25 UTC6

1316z: VIOLA 32 (suspected E6B; AE840F; "stub" on ADSBExchange mapping
site) launched from TINKER and made a grand tour of the central U.S.,
flying as far north as BISMARK, ND before returning to the TINKER area.

     8992.0 was active at 2013z and 2019z with ACID MAN calling MAINSAIL
with no known response.  At that time, VIOLA 32 was enroute to, and near
to, TINKER.

     11175.0 was active at 2220z with SOPHOMORE (NCS HFGCS) broadcasting
the 30 character EAM HJTNSS.

2237z: IRID 27 (E6B; AE0411) launched from TINKER and flew to the Pacific
coast of southern California.

     11175.0 was active at 2224z, 2250z, 2320z, and 2350z with BALL BAT
(E6B; not visible on ADSB mapping sites) broadcasting HJTNSS at the
h+20/h+50 TACAMO PAC restoral rebroadcast window.

28 Mar 25

0140/50z IRID 27 appears to cross the southern California coast and fly
north up the coast.

     11175.0 was active at 0226z with ASSORTED (NCS HFGCS) broadcasting the
30 character EAM "HJCZDF" but disregarding the string during the first
reading of the strings.  Back up at 0230z with HJCZDG (corrected).

     11175.0 was active at 0233z with ASSORTED (different operator)
broadcasting HJCZDG.  Presumed h+00/h+30 NCS restoral rebroadcast window.
Nothing heard at 0300z.

     22.7 KHz VLF (California SDR) was found active at 0246z with a broad
MSK "cloud" that suggests a FSK 50 baud transmission preceded it with
plaintext traffic.  Missed it if it happened.  The 'cloud" disappeared
around 0253z.  No HF h+20/h+50 restoral rebroadcast traffic was heard at
any point around this time. If you utilize the ADSBExchange playback
function you'll see that a KC135 tanker (AE0269) apparently refueled IRID
27 off the coast of California shortly after 0253z. As of 0421z IRID 27 is
westbound over Arizona perhaps enroute back to TINKER.

Jeff
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Jeff Haverlah               Coastal Texas
     Airspy HF+ Discovery   W6LVP loop  Various web SDRs
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