Low-Probability-of-Intercept/Low-Probability-of-Detection (LPI/LPD) Data Link

Time Domain Corporation (TDC) proposes using an Ultra-wideband (UWB) communication system to provide a reliable 30 km RF link between an unmanned aerial vehicle and a ground station. Pseudo random flipped and time hopped codes provide a whitened pulse train with very low power spectral density (PSD). The PSD looks like Gaussian distributed noise to most narrowband low noise detection systems and would be very difficult to detect with wideband systems. The intended UWB receiver uses coherent integration to pull the signals out of the noise and to reconstruct and decode the information symbols. TDC has demonstrated several long range line of sight ground-to-ground links (approximately 15 km) using a high gain directional receive antenna, and shorter range LOS ground-to-UAV links (approximately 1 km) using very small omni-directional antennas and radiated effective isotropic power (E.I.R.P.) of 9.5 dBm = 9 mW. In Phase I, TDC will define requirements, build a demonstration platform, perform link budget analysis, conduct LPI/LPD analysis, and plan the prototype design. The program will determine feasibility of meeting size, weight, and power consumption requirements with UWB radios that provide sufficient data rate over a 30 km link.