Urim SIGINT Base
Encyclopedia
Urim SIGINT Base is an Israeli
intelligence-gathering installation, part of the Unit 8200
. Urim is located in the Negev
desert approximately 30km from Beersheba
, a couple of kilometres north of the kibbutz
of Urim
. The existence of the signal interception base became known to the public only in 2010.
Equivalents of Unit 8200 are the Government Communications Headquarters
(GCHQ) of Britain and the National Security Agency
(NSA) of the United States
. Each of these signals interception spy agencies is far bigger in size than its cloak and dagger counterparts.
satellites that relay international telephone calls, Urim was expanded to cover maritime communications (Inmarsat
), and kept being expanded to intercept the signal communications of ever more communications satellites. Duncan Campbell, an intelligence specialist stated that Urim is "akin to the UK-USA pact's Echelon
satellite interception ground stations." The Echelon system was set up by the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as a global network of signal interception stations.
Computers at Urim detect words and phone numbers of interest from intercepted phone calls, e-mails, etc. which are then transferred to Unit 8200's headquarters at Herzliya
. At the HQ, the information is translated and submitted as necessary to IDF
headquarters or to Israel's spy agencies, such as the Mossad
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
intelligence-gathering installation, part of the Unit 8200
Unit 8200
Unit 8200 is an Israeli Intelligence Corps unit responsible for collecting signal intelligence and code decryption. It also appears in military publications as the Central Collection Unit of the Intelligence Corps.-History:...
. Urim is located in the Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
desert approximately 30km from Beersheba
Beersheba
Beersheba is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the seventh-largest city in Israel with a population of 194,300....
, a couple of kilometres north of the kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
of Urim
Urim, Israel
Urim is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Located near the border of the Gaza Strip and about 30 kilometers west of Beersheba, the kibbutz falls under the jurisdiction of Eshkol Regional Council.-History:...
. The existence of the signal interception base became known to the public only in 2010.
Equivalents of Unit 8200 are the Government Communications Headquarters
Government Communications Headquarters
The Government Communications Headquarters is a British intelligence agency responsible for providing signals intelligence and information assurance to the UK government and armed forces...
(GCHQ) of Britain and the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
(NSA) of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Each of these signals interception spy agencies is far bigger in size than its cloak and dagger counterparts.
History
Created decades ago to monitor IntelsatIntelsat
Intelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
satellites that relay international telephone calls, Urim was expanded to cover maritime communications (Inmarsat
Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global, mobile services. It provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals which communicate to ground stations through eleven geostationary telecommunications satellites...
), and kept being expanded to intercept the signal communications of ever more communications satellites. Duncan Campbell, an intelligence specialist stated that Urim is "akin to the UK-USA pact's Echelon
Echelon
Echelon may refer to:* A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.* Echelon formation, a military hierarchical formation, also used to describe the migratory patterns of birds...
satellite interception ground stations." The Echelon system was set up by the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as a global network of signal interception stations.
Function
The base has a row of satellite dishes that can intercept phone calls, emails, and other communications from anywhere in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and antennas that can monitor shipping. There are also numerous barracks and operations buildings lined along the road that leads to the base, which is protected by high security gates, fences, and guard dogs.Computers at Urim detect words and phone numbers of interest from intercepted phone calls, e-mails, etc. which are then transferred to Unit 8200's headquarters at Herzliya
Herzliya
Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...
. At the HQ, the information is translated and submitted as necessary to IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
headquarters or to Israel's spy agencies, such as the Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
.
External links
- Big Ears: 'Largest' secret spy hub uncovered in Israel, RTRT (TV network)RT, previously known as Russia Today, is a global multilingual television news network based in the Russian Federation run by the state-owned state-run RIA Novosti....
, 20 January 2011 Note installations can be seen on the satellite image, but do not appear in map view.