German Media Reveals US Military "Survivor Escape Locator"

Reference News Network reported on April 10 An article titled "Spending 48 Hours on Enemy Territory—A Little-Known Device Saved the Lives of U.S. Soldiers" was published on the website of Germany's Welt on April 6, authored by Gerhard Heggemann. The full text is excerpted as follows:

On April 3, a U.S. F-15E "Strike Eagle" fighter jet was shot down by an Iranian air defense system. Regarding the rescue mission for the personnel on board, U.S. President Trump called it "one of the boldest rescue operations in American history."

Two U.S. military personnel successfully ejected from the aircraft; one pilot was quickly rescued by U.S. forces, but a weapons systems officer who landed several kilometers away hid in enemy mountainous terrain for nearly 48 hours and maintained contact with U.S. forces through a little-known device—the "Combat Survivor Evader Locator" (CSEL). This is an advanced survival and rescue radio device used by the U.S. military, model AN/PRQ-7.

Developed by Boeing, this device primarily serves downed pilots, special forces, or isolated soldiers, aiming to help them quickly and safely obtain assistance in life-and-death situations. It is often referred to as "Global 911" (911 is the U.S. emergency call number—editor's note), and its original purpose was to assist U.S. pilots in facing their darkest moments.

This compact handheld device weighs about 800 grams and is nearly 20 centimeters long, integrating several core technologies, including a high-precision military-grade Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that can calculate accurate locations with extreme safety and precision, outperforming civilian GPS networks, and can automatically embed location information into messages. Additionally, the device supports "beyond-line-of-sight transmission," enabling secure, encrypted data transmission via satellite communication. Users can send preset short messages or custom text (e.g., "I am still alive, need help") along with precise location and authentication information.

Moreover, the device can provide line-of-sight wireless transmission when rescue personnel come into view and send unencrypted emergency signals. Due to the constantly changing frequencies, these signals are difficult to intercept or locate. Reportedly, the device's battery life can last up to 21 days and can operate normally underwater at a depth of 10 meters.

The device is installed within the pilot's life vest and typically activates automatically when the ejection seat is initiated. It then sends a message containing the individual's location, identity, and status. This information is transmitted via satellite to a base station, which subsequently notifies the rescue command center to coordinate rescue operations. When rescue personnel arrive nearby, it can switch to radio direct communication.

Reports indicate that the weapons systems officer on the downed F-15E initially used the device's preset text messages. He did not communicate via radio but sent encrypted messages containing precise location updates every few hours to avoid being located by Iranian forces. The device only switched to another mode when the rescue helicopter approached, allowing the pilot to determine his exact location and display it in real-time on the cockpit system.

To evade Iranian electronic warfare systems, the device employs techniques such as ultra-short pulse transmission and fast frequency hopping. These signals appear to enemy listening systems as random background noise, making them extremely difficult to identify or track. It has been reported that Iran had offered a reward of about $60,000 for the capture of this U.S. weapons systems officer.

The CSEL device has been in use since the early 21st century, with tens of thousands produced, and has been battle-tested in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. (Translated by Zhong Sirui)