GCHQ CSO Morwenstow

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The GCHQ Composite Signals Organisation Station Morwenstow is a satellite ground station located on the north Cornwall coast between the small villages of Morwenstow and Coombe, UK operated by the British signals intelligence service (GCHQ) on the site of the former World War II airfield, RAF Cleave.

The station comprises 21 satellite antennas of various sizes (including 3 that have a diameter of 30 m) that could theoretically cover all the main frequency bands: L band, C band, K_u band, X band, K_a band and V band. Calculated on the basis of their position, their elevation and their compass (azimuth) angle the antennae are generally orientated towards satellites of the INTELSAT, INTERSPUTNIK and INMARSAT communications networks over the Atlantic ocean, Africa and the Indian ocean , as well as towards the Middle East and mainland Europe. Staff are drawn from GCHQ (UK) and the NSA (US) and the station is operated under the UKUSA agreement, gathering data for the ECHELON signals intelligence (SIGINT) network. Comparable stations in operation include Menwith Hill (UK), Sugar Grove (West Virginia, US), Yakima (Washington, US), Sabana Seca (Puerto Rico), Misawa (Japan), Pine Gap (Australia), Geraldton (Australia) and GCSB Waihopai (New Zealand) that cover other INTELSAT areas such as South America and the Pacific Ocean. GCHQ CSO Morwenstow is located about 100 km from the commercially operated Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station that handles civilian communications (which is due for closure in 2008).

The activities of GCHQ CSO Morwenstow usually remain classified, however, partly in response to concerns expressed by some EU member states that Morwenstow is responsible for industrial espionage and the interception of civilian communications, a report by the European Parliament (referenced below) was made public in 2001 that provides some details about the station.

Morwenstow GCHQ station was recently renamed GCHQ Bude. A new sign has been placed near the site entrance with the words "GCHQ Bude".