Conformal Antenna Technology for Improved Signal Intelligence (SIGINT)

ABSTRACT: Judd Strategic Technologies proposes to design, select, and demonstrate conformal antenna concepts and geometries that will enable tactical SIGINT exploitation of traditional and non-traditional signals of interest ("NTSOI") for threat detection, avoidance, and targeting on the C-130. We will first identify and specify potential conformal antenna installation locations on the AC/MC-130Js. This objective will include identifying a number of possible areas and solutions for antenna placement and metal component replacement to facilitate the use of conformal loadbearing antennas ("CLAS"antennas). This will be followed by identifying and specifying relevant system components necessary to achieve high DF performance on the C-130 such as receiver, processor, RF cable types, and navigation system, and predicting antenna performance as installed on the AC/MC-130Js. Finally, we will identify SIGINT solutions for other platforms such as C-17, P-8, using the design results of the C-130 solution, including analyzing and highlighting structural and performance constraints to enable similar DF/SIGINT performance on other platforms, such as the C-17, P-8, and the RC-135 (Rivet Joint). BENEFIT: The primary anticipated benefit is improved SIGINT on legacy manned airborne platforms. The program aims to produce a technology and methodologies that provide low cost SIGINT capabilities on existing platforms.