Airborne RF Direction Finding System

The proposed Phase II SBIR Program aims to develop and test a compact, integrated system suitable for conducting RF direction finding (DF) and geolocation in near-real time from a small airborne platform. QUASAR Federal Systems will produce a system suitable for integration into Unmanned Aircraft Systems as small as a MEUAS (e.g., Boeing ScanEagle) or an aerostat and provide both signal interception and geolocation of multiple signals in the 30 MHz 500 MHz range in near real time. The proposed technology has several advantages over traditional DF approaches. Primarily, it offers the capability to provide geolocation from a single position, using antenna elements that are much smaller, less obvious, and potentially better camouflaged as compared with the multiple antenna elements used by traditional DF techniques. The program is divided into Base and Option Phases. The culmination of the base program will be a balloon or tower-mounted demonstration. The program end goal is a successful demonstration of a system mounted on a customer-selected UAV or aerostat at the completion of the Option Phase.