Abstract: A high frequency (HF) communications buoy that employs HF surface wave, and sky wave, communication and spread spectrum modulation to suppress multipath fading and to decrease the undesired detectability of transmitted signals. The buoy comprises a water-tight floatable enclosure that may be deployed from a flying vehicle or a submerged vessel. An HF communications transceiver is disposed within the enclosure that is capable of transmitting and receiving signals employing high frequency (HF) band surface wave and sky wave propagation. The transceiver further comprises spread spectrum modulation and demodulation circuitry for modulating transmitted signals utilizing spread spectrum modulation and for demodulating received signals encoded by means of spread spectrum modulation. The spread spectrum modulation and demodulation circuitry is provided to suppress multipath fading and decrease the probability of detection of transmitted signals.