How mobile devices are tracked in modern warfare

Technology News | January 23, 2024

By Peter Clarke

Military Communications Authentication & Encryption Test and Measurement RF transmission Wearables Software & Embedded tools Wireless Communications

Communications software provider Enea AB (Stockholm, Sweden) has published a report that details the methods used to track mobile devices in modern warfare.

The report is titled Location Tracking on the Battlefield: Phones Under Fire. Enea claims it marks the first complete review of mobile tracking methods used in modern warfare with a focus on Ukraine. An attack on Russian forces in Makiivka on New Year’s Day 2023 is referenced as one example. It was reported to have been made possible by the tracking of Russian forces’ use of mobile phones.

In the 30-page report Enea gives an overview of the various methods used including those on both military radios and mobile networks and divides them into three categories:

Radio-enabled location tracking
Network-enabled location tracking
Device-enabled tracking

The report gives guidance and recommendations on the risks of mobile device tracking in war zones based on original research of open-source material and intelligence from Enea’s mobile network Threat Intelligence Unit.

Cathal McDaid, vice president of technology at Enea and lead author of the report, said: commented, “This report brings an important understanding of how phones are tracked on the battlefield, adding crucial insights for telecom, military and government policymakers to enhance security measures and effectively leverage technological advancements in the field.”