Passive Coherent Location (PCL) for Launch Vehicles

The objective of the proposed research is to develop innovative algorithms and a flexible, scalable processing architecture to detect and track aircraft (including launch vehicles) by exploiting scattered radiation from commercial high power radio andtelevision broadcast stations. The system is completely passive and emits no radiation. We will show that a mobile (e.g. van mounted), low-cost, rapidly deployable, high-performance capability is feasible using recently available COTS integratedmicroelectronics. System performance, tracking accuracy, and implementation feasibility will be confirmed by analysis and simulation in Phase I. A prototype will be developed in Phase II and used to demonstrate the system in preparation for productionand deployment in Phase III. This mobile, low cost system will support existing launch ranges with a low-cost tracking system. It will have broad application as a