Helicopter Hostile Fire Indicator (HFI) Sensor Development

Syntonics has demonstrated the feasibility of the Staring Projectile Detection Radar (SPiDR). SPiDR is a stealthy, ultra wideband (UWB) noise radar system. In Phase II we will design and fabricate a multi-channel SPiDR prototype system with detection range of at least 100-m (300-m objective). Progressively realistic laboratory and live fire tests are performed with various projectiles to evaluate the performance of the prototype SPiDR system. The Phase II prototype meets or exceeds all requirements of the SBIR topic including size, weight, power, and range. Staring UWB noise radar are lightweight, elegantly simple, intrinsically low cost/low power devices that use low probability-of-interception (LPI) spread-spectrum radio frequency signals to detect and range on objects. Using LPI signals at power levels comparable to the environmental RF noise floor means SPiDR operates without a detectable electronic signature (!). SPiDRs detection and ranging technique is intrinsically immune to helicopter vibration and maneuvering. SPiDRs radar modules are small and can be mechanically integrated in a variety of ways including as conformal patches on the helicopters fuselage or as a single multi-sided squat pyramid under the helicopter. Integrating SPiDRs user interface with the AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning System or Advanced Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AASE) is feasible.