Airborne Passive Radar

ABSTRACT: The objective of this effort is to design and demonstrate a passive radar air to air detection sensor system for aircraft installation that can passively detect and track other aircraft. In Phase I, we will perform a technology feasibility assessment and deliver a description of the conceptual solution of an airborne passive radar system, data to support the feasibility of the proposed solution, and a brief outline of a Phase II effort. We will develop approaches for networked airborne passive radar systems which possess characteristics of size, weight, and power commensurate with fighter and bomber class aircraft without significantly diminishing the aircrafts"performance envelope. The detection sensor system must demonstrate the capability to operate with both low false alarm rates and relatively high probability of detection under operational conditions. BENEFIT: The technology from this Phase I effort will become instrumental in the development a wide variety of current and future passive radar systems. Multistatic radar may enable enhanced surveillance capability, allowing high-value transmitters to maintain significant stand-off ranges. Airborne passive radar allows penetrating platforms to perform surveillance without transmitting RF energy that could reveal their presence. Military applications include bistatic adjunct applications for existing and future radar systems. In addition, many UAS applications will benefit from this technology. Commercial applications include Air Traffic Control of non transponder transmitting aircraft.