CFS Leitrim
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Canadian Forces Station Leitrim, also referred to as CFS Leitrim, is an important Canadian Forces Station located in the neighbourhood of Leitrim near Ottawa, Ontario. It is concerned with the interception, decrypting and processing of communication for the Communications Security Establishment and the Canadian Armed Forces, and reportedly forms part of the ECHELON system.
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[edit] Background
CFS Leitrim, located just south of Ottawa, is Canada's oldest operational signal intelligence collection station. Established by the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in 1941 as I Special Wireless Station and renamed Ottawa Wireless Station in 1949, CFS Leitrim acquired its current name when the Supplementary Radio System was created in 1966. In 1946, the station's complement was 75 personnel. The current strength is 450 military personnel and 28 civilian employees.
[edit] Operations
CFS Leitrim is composed of the following units:
[edit] 76 Communication Group (76 Comm Gp)
The mission of 76 Communication Group is to provide IT support to National Defence Headquarter Group Principals, Environmental Chiefs, their staffs, and controlled units.
[edit] Canadian Forces Crypto Maintenance Unit (CFCMU)
The mission of the CFCMU today is to maintain and repair cryptographic equipment, to perform acceptance testing on new cryptographic equipment being brought into service, and to install strategic secure information distribution systems (so-called "Red Distribution Systems") for the Canadian Forces (CF) and other government departments. It is also to test, and to do limited repair and modification, of fixed and mobile secure enclosures shielded against electromagnetic emanations.
[edit] Canadian Forces Crypto Support Unit (CFCSU)
The mission of CFCSU is to provide communication security material accountability, courier services, account inspections, third-level communications security material support and management services, custodian training and publish CF communications security publications and generation and distribution of electronic keying material for CF cryptographic equipment.
[edit] Canadian Forces Data Centre (CFDC)
The mission of CFDC is to provide reliable and timely data processing services to the CF. It is also to ensure backup recovery services for all of its users in the event of an operational overload or an emergency.
[edit] Canadian Forces Electronic Warfare Center (CFEWC)
CFEWC is mandated with the development of the CF Electronic Warfare Database (CFEWDB). This relational database contains information on a variety of related subjects including emitter parametrics and platform and weapon fitments. It is designed for use by the CF community at large as a single-source reference on EW-related matters. Its development continues with the intention of adding electro-optical and infrared signatures in the near future.
