GRIFFIN - Passive, Expeditionary Air Defense Radar

GRIFFIN is a hybrid passive, expeditionary, multistatic radar system. It is design to provide ACC operators high quality air domain awareness in a form factor that is highly maneuverable and using passive techniques that are concealed from the adversary. GRIFFIN consists of distributed nodes that are networked together to create a common air picture. The distribution of sensing across a network of nodes has enabled substantial size, weight, power, and cost (SWAP-C) improvements that would otherwise be impossible with a monostatic radar system. Further, GRIFFIN’s multistatic architecture enables it to operate as a hybrid passive radar. When in uncontested environments, GRIFFIN can activate its transmitter node and achieve enhanced ranges. When in contested environments, GRIFFIN leverages the ambient frequencies being transmitted by global electronics to provide air awareness. As detailed in Sections X/Y, GRIFFIN presents a high impact value proposition to ACC both at home and abroad. CHAOS’ goals for its Phase-2 scope of work are to:Produce an operationally viable passive radar by solving the remaining underlying technical challenges Ensure development, and the resulting production system, are maximally aligned with ACC mission needsDespite a clear need for effective, passive radar systems – the operational viability of passive radar systems has been limited, in part, by the following technical challenges:Processing of reflected signals with low power and minimal latency. Passive radars depend on a local RF emitter, called the “Illuminator of Opportunity” (IoO), to “paint” the target with energy. Identifying true targets amidst the noise and clutter presented from sensing ambient RF waves results in a computationally challenging correlation problem requires enormous compute resources, which drives system SWaP requirements and makes passive systems prohibitive for expeditionary applications. Achieving robust communication while minimizing RF signatures. Operation of an expeditionary multistatic radar system depends on high data-rate wireless communications between the geographically distributed nodes. However, the transmitted signals between the various nodes creates a potential vulnerability as they may expose the node existence/location.  In GRIFFIN, CHAOS introduces several innovations to overcome these major technology challenges, while retaining a SWaP-C consistent with an expeditionary radar system. CHAOS seeks to partner with ACC to ensure the resulting operationally ready GRIFFIN are maximally aligned with ACC mission needs and can be placed on a viable path to transition to the benefit of the warfighter.