IMPACT: Integrated Multi-sensor Persistent Airborne Counter-UAS Technology

This proposal outlines a Phase I study to develop a highly integrated airborne sensor system.  Designed to track and identify small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in complex and dynamic Naval environments, this tailored for naval operations where challenges such as sea clutter and electromagnetic interference are prevalent. This system combines infrared sensor processing with a compact dual band C/Ka band radar system employing air-to-air inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging. Advanced infrared techniques will provide dynamic calibration, adaptive noise suppression, enabling reliable detection of thermal signatures. Concurrently, the airborne radar operating in C and Ka bands will generate high-resolution air-to-air ISAR images for detailed target identification essential for maritime threat assessment. This initiative is a collaborative effort between Toyon and Duke. Toyon will develop size, weight and power constrained sensors for airborne UAS operations as well as data fusion algorithms.  Duke will focus on advanced radar processing, target identification, and tracking. Leveraging the distinct expertise of both teams, the phase I effort aims to demonstrate improved detection accuracy and tracking fidelity of the fused radar and IR sensors, establishing a solid foundation for Phase II development and advancing overall naval defense systems capable of countering emerging small UAS threats.