Concurrent Multi-net Link-16 Digital-RF Receiver

HYPRES proposes an innovative solution to Navy’s need for concurrent multi-netting in a single receiver. Our approach involves direct digitization of the entire wideband (960-1215 MHz) RF signal followed by distribution of digital copies among multiple independent, parallel processing chains. This digital-RF approach ensures scalability to multiple nets with no loss of signal power and fidelity, while eliminating expensive analog components such as fast hopping synthesizers. In collaboration with ViaSat, a prime contractor for Link-16 terminals, we recently demonstrated the power of digital-RF technology with a two-net dehopping receiver prototype with ONR Discovery and Invention funding. During that program, we discovered a signal processing technique, which is ideally suited for direct demodulation of the Link-16 waveform, and presents a unique opportunity to significantly condense back-end processing hardware. Building on this strong foundation, we propose to perform digital demodulation of multiple hopnets. Our goal is to demonstrate scaling to (1) 4 simultaneous hop-nets, (2) greater than 10 simultaneous hop-nets, and finally, receive all the nets all the time. We propose to build and deliver the first prototype hardware in Phase I, and demonstrate Link-16 demodulation with the new digital-RF cross-correlation algorithm; scaling to full capability will happen in Phase II.