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> ESM and Passive RF Sensing
Summary
RF Systems
ESM AND PASSIVE RF SENSING SUMMARY
SUMMARY
This
sub-theme comprises a number of complementary research
topics covering both ESM and passive radar techniques.
The ESM work aims to improve techniques for emitter
detection and location in complex electromagnetic environments,
whilst the passive radar work will investigate novel
techniques for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) surveillance
using non co-operative emitters of opportunity.
MILITARY BENEFITS
RF sensing using enemy or third party
transmitters can greatly enhance the covertness and survivability
of own forces, whilst ideally maintaining the all-weather,
long range performance offered by radar.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
To review the state-of-the-art in both ESM and
passive coherent radar with a view to identifying
technology gaps
To investigate the exploitation
of Time to Digital Converter (TDC) technology for
low cost direction finding and ESM
To develop techniques for bistatic
SAR imaging, particularly using non-co-operative
transmitters such as navigation satellites
To research the utility of multilateration
techniques time-of-arrival methods for both ESM
and passive coherent radar systems
RESEARCH OUTLINE
ESM
and Passive Coherent Radar (PCR)- the research
here will centre on the development of an environment
model which will be used to baseline existing ESM and
PCR techniques, with an emphasis on operation in complex
electromagnetic environments. This will be backed up
by the use of a simple demonstrator system to carry
out de-risking and model validation. This work will
provide a basis for assessing limitations of current
techniques and directing future research.
TDC Technology- This
research will investigate architectures for TDC-based
ESM and DF systems including a comparison with conventional
architectures. Performance will be compared by analysis
and simulation in a representative signal environment.
An investigation will be conducted into the cost of
manufacture and complexity of integration on a typical
platform. In addition, the application of TDC-based
ESM will be considered using multiple platforms. Plans
will be drawn up for a proof-of-principle demonstrator
using the most promising architecture.
Bistatic SAR- The aim
of this research is to develop techniques for bistatic
SAR as applied to wide area sensing. The work will be
based on the use of emitters of opportunity, the most
likely being navigation satellites, with an airborne
receiver. Such a configuration will allow the development
of a sensor system with high reliability, flexibility
and interference protection. This is due to the redundancy
provided by the large number of emitters and their spatial
separation. The research will define, via modelling
and experiments, an optimal system configuration and
assess its potential performance. Issues to be addressed
will include heterodyne synchronisation and specific
bistatic internal interference suppression.
CO-ORDINATION WITH EXISTING /
PREVIOUS RESEARCH
This research work consists partly
of incremental development of existing work and partly
of novel techniques. The bistatic SAR research will
be carefully co-ordinated with complementary work on
the FOAS programme.
This
sub-theme comprises a number of complementary research
topics covering both ESM and passive radar techniques.
The ESM work aims to improve techniques for emitter
detection and location in complex electromagnetic environments,
whilst the passive radar work will investigate novel
techniques for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) surveillance
using non co-operative emitters of opportunity. 
ESM
and Passive Coherent Radar (PCR)- the research
here will centre on the development of an environment
model which will be used to baseline existing ESM and
PCR techniques, with an emphasis on operation in complex
electromagnetic environments. This will be backed up
by the use of a simple demonstrator system to carry
out de-risking and model validation. This work will
provide a basis for assessing limitations of current
techniques and directing future research.