Passive Airborne Radar Using Opportunistic Signals (PASSAROS)

ABSTRACT: A key requirement for a practical/scalable airborne passive radar system using opportunistic ground emitters such as broadcast TV is the ability to effectively isolate the high-powered direct-path signals from much weaker target reflected ones. Previous passive radars rely on array antennas complemented by multistatic techniques and dedicate/agile decoders for every-possible-type of opportunistic signal which conflict with CSWAP-limitations of the airborne platforms. Our proposed Passive Airborne Radar using Opportunistic Signals (PASSAROS) provides a solution for these challenges as it requires a single receiver per platform without requiring detection of specific channels or features; uses simple correlation/synchronization techniques to cancel out the problematic direct-path while achieving high-quality measurement of target range and Doppler, and expands on novel technologies Applied Radar recently demonstrated for DARPA"s Surface Tactical Terminal Localization using Opportunistic Signals (STALOS) for multi-target sorting and triangulation. Our proposed PASSAROS research will focus on the important detection-and-tracking of aircraft flying at altitudes below the view of traditional radar systems. Specifically, Applied Radar will develop and simulated the performance of an airborne passive radar system in Phase I, and develop a testbed using mobile ground-based receivers emulating airborne platforms and demonstrate its performance to detect a low-flying aircraft target in Phase II. BENEFIT: Tracking and location for first responders to aircraft accidents. Federal Aviation Agency for surveillance and tracking aircraft and for air safety if transponders fail or are turned off. Drug Enforcement Agency for surveillance and tracking aircraft. A ground-based passive radar system could be used for non-towered airports. Passive sensors located along a perimeter fence could be used to detect and track intruders along a border.