Helicopter Hostile Fire Indicator (HFI) Sensor Development

Syntonics proposes to develop the Staring Projectile Detection Radar (SPiDR) for helicopters. SPiDR is an ultra wideband (UWB)"noise"radar that stares at an approximately 3 GHz wide portion of the 6-30 GHz band. SPiDR detects incoming and near-miss projectiles ranging from slow RPGs to fast rifle bullets. SPiDR uses existing radar and signal processing electronic concepts that have already been successfully demonstrated. Staring UWB noise radar are lightweight, elegantly simple, intrinsically low cost/low power devices that use low probability-of-detection (LPD) spread-spectrum radio frequency signals to detect and range on objects. Using LPD signals at power levels comparable to the environmental RF noise floor means the radar can operate without detectable electronic signature. SPiDR"s detection and ranging technique is intrinsically immune to helicopter vibration and maneuvering. SPiDR"s radar modules are small and can be mechanically integrated in a variety of ways including as conformal patches on the helicopter"s fuselage alongside existing threat sensors, or as a single multi-sided squat pyramid under the helicopter. Integrating SPiDR"s user interface with the AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning System or Advanced Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AASE) should be feasible.