Seafarer: Extremely Low Frequency Naval Communications System (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
June 20, 1978 |
| Report Number |
IB78015 |
| Authors |
Edmund J. Gannon, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
SEAFARER (Surface ELF transmitting system For Addressing Remotely deployed Receivers), an extremely low frequency communications system designed for worldwide communications with submerged submarines, has been proposed as a supplement to current systems. SEAFARER can penetrate seawater to great depths, allowing communications with ballistic missile submarines while they remain at optimal operating depths and speeds. Critics of SEAFARER claim that the system is too vulnerable to nuclear attack, has too low a data transmission rate, and is too limited in capacity, and that its installation might present radiation hazards to onsite residents. For these and other reasons, system development of SEAFARER has been slow and no actual construction of the system has begun.
