Secure Time Aiding in Challenged RF environments

ABSTRACT: Azure Summit proposes to leverage ongoing work with DARPA, AFRL, and the Navy to survey potential signals that can be used to harvest precise time, quantify the performance and expectation of trust that can be established, and architect a system solution to create this capability and disseminate it to tactical users. Timing Extraction from Wireless SignalsAzure will leverage our extensive experience in SIGINT, and prior studies using signals of opportunity (SoOPs) for PNT, to perform a trade study to look at both commercial and military wireless networks and signals, to understand and recommend their utility for time transfer. We assume a software defined radio (SDR) at each node in the notional system to perform this survey, collaboratively make timing measurements and achieve synchrony, update databases, and aid GPS. Phase I of this research is a study effort to explore the possibilities in the world of wireless signals that can potentially be sources of timing informationdespite GPS being jammedthat we can accurately, and confidently, use to aid tactical military GPS receivers who have the C/A signal jammed, and which need time aiding to about 1ms accuracy in order to achieve direct acquisition of P(Y) or M-Code. BENEFIT: For the proposed military GPS time aiding technology, Azure leverages existing capabilities, technology and transition partnerships, and ongoing AFRL, DARPA, and Navy investments that will all be leveraged towards the proposed initiative. We summarize our plan as follows: 1) Kick off Phase I and immediately determine with AFRL if the accelerated SBIR Pilot program is applicable, and if so develop a plan to move rapidly into a Phase II. 2) In Phase I and Phase II, work closely with the Air Force, Rockwell, and other stakeholders to select the best development and demonstration path to demonstrate secure time aiding to one or more tactical GPS receivers, and determine under what CONOPS and scenarios they best fit; 3) Work with the Air Force to determine the best path forward with respect to tactical networks, which will require GFI and GFE radio equipment. Demonstrate our prototype in Phase II with Tactical GPS receivers, and tactical networks if appropriate; 4) Work with the Air Force and Rockwell transition into an operational capability.