High Efficiency SIGINT Collection

U.S. intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) platforms employ SIGINT sensors for target platform detection, identification and location. Many receivers are narrowband and are scanned over the RF spectrum (e.g., 2-18 GHz) in search of RF emitters of interest. With the rapid proliferation of RF technology, the signal spectrum has become complex and congested placing a burden on the SIGINT receiver to keep up with its surveillance and data processing requirements. However, the receiver must maintain a high probability of intercept for critical emitters.The objective of this SBIR topic was to develop methods for efficient SIGINT receiver data collection and processing. This proposed Phase II program will develop and demonstrate a mathematical optimization algorithm that will generate a receiver frequency band scan schedule that maximizes the receiver's resource usage. The solution is developed to specifically address the intercept of modern, agile emitters. An advanced software prototype that implements the optimization algorithm will be developed. Work is planned to integrate the software system with the ALQ-217 receiver. Demonstrations using representative scenarios will be used to compare the new scan schedule optimization algorithm with a baseline to assess the performance advantages.