Waveform Agile, Low-cost Multi-function Radio Frequency ISR in Contested Environment

ABSTRACT:TSC and its partners, Dr. Mark Bell of Purdue University and KEYW Corporation, will investigate diverse waveforms that support simultaneous SAR and GMTI radar modes for aircraft operating in contested environments. These novel waveforms can be adapted to meet mission requirements and offer low Probability of Intercept (LPI), jammer resistance and reduced surveillance time-lines. We plan to focus on practical issues related to transmitting and processing these waveforms in Phase I. We will leverage the CERFER testbed that is being developed by KEYW for AFRL for a demonstration flight or laboratory experiment in Phase 2. TSC has broad experience in VideoSAR and exo/endo-clutter GMTI processing techniques from its work on the AFRL Gotcha, DARPA ViSAR and other programs. TSC has developed an innovative Optimized Waveform Generator that will be used to refine the baseline orthogonal phase-coded LFM waveforms to overcome transmitter distortions. In Phase I, our team will refine the baseline waveforms explored by other researchers, develop a flexible real-time processing architecture, address radar hardware limitations, and prepare a demonstration flight test plan. Analysis and computer simulations will be used to accomplish the work in Phase I with the express goal of conducting a hardware experiment in Phase II. BENEFIT:These diverse waveforms will enable simultaneous SAR and GMTI surveillance modes and offer low Probability of Intercept, jammer resistance and reduced surveillance time-lines for aircraft conducting surveillance or ground attack missions in contested environments. This can help circumvent Electronic Attack which can defeat or greatly limit the capabilities of advanced airborne radar systems on Air Force platforms. The manned platforms that can benefit include the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II and new F-X fighters, new Long Range Strike-Bomber, and Next-Generation ISR system (Joint STARS Recapitalization). The unmanned platforms that can benefit include the RQ-4B Global Hawk, MQ-9 Reaper and various small UAVs being developed and deployed by the Navy and Army including the Firescout MQ-8B/C and Blackjack RQ-21A.