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 LPI/LPE
Techniques-The first task will
be to consider scenarios where LPI is likely to be significant,
to guide the rest of the study. LPI radar techniques
(including omnidirectional transmission, random search
patterns, bistatic operation, very wide band operation
and waveform agility) which may enhance performance
will then be examined and assessed.
The other side of LPI is the abilities
of the ESM system and the operating environment. Likely
future enhancements to ESM capabilities (e.g. matched
detectors or reconfigurable digital receivers) and the
effects of practical propagation paths on ESM sensitivity
and accuracy in particular environments will be considered.
Methods of exploiting emitters once
they have been detected will be considered. These include
deducing position and intention, noise and deception
jamming, the possibility of attack by ARM and exploiting
the radar as a transmitter of opportunity for a bistatic
radar.
The major part of the project will
be a comprehensive report containing assessments, backed
by quantitative calculations, of the contributions these
factors will play in the maintenance or undermining
of an LPE capability. In order to ensure a realistic
appraisal of the utility of LPE, the studies above will
be balanced by an effort to understand the current military
view of the utility of LPI/LPE. This will also consider
the ways the military intend to exploit detection of
systems using LPI/LPE and how that view is expected
to change in the future.
Additionally, a short programme of
experiments is planned for the second year. This work
is planned to use the 'Dual Linear Array' (DLA) at THALES,
a one-dimensional active phased array using FMCW modulation,
suitably modified to allow the use of less predictable
waveforms and scan patterns. It is anticipated that
the array will probably only be required to operate
in transmit mode as it will be the ability to intercept
and characterise the transmissions which will be measured.
 HF
Radar- HF Surface Wave Radar offers a unique
over the horizon capability for the detection of air
and sea targets. A coastal HF Surface Wave Radar can
provide economic and rapid large area search of coastal
areas as well as the detection of low observable targets
at shorter ranges, using fixed or re-deployable systems.
The research will investigate and
develop novel radar modes and signal processing techniques
that will allow the reliable detection of small fast
RIB type craft at ranges of tens of kilometres, together
with the detection of conventional targets.
HF radar systems tend to be physically
large and work to date has only considered fixed installations.
A deployable sensor would offer a much more flexible
military capability. The proposed research will develop
a viable system concept for a rapidly deployable sensor,
with the aim being that it can be remotely sited, unmanned
and autonomous in operation.
Key enabling technologies for the
architectures developed within the study will be investigated
as appropriate. In particular it is anticipated that
there will be a requirement to develop novel low profile
antenna technology and high power PIN diode-based duplexer
techniques that will provide the basis for mobile deployable
antennas.
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