MMW COMBAT IDENTIFICATION DEVICE

THE MILLIMETER WAVE COMBAT IDENTIFICATION DEVICE IS A PASSIVE (NON-EMITTING) BEACON WHICH IS A LOW-COST, COMBAT RUGGED DEVICE FOR THE POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF FRIENDLY GROUND VEHICLES, IN TIGHT QUARTERED, OBSCURE BATTLEFIELD ENGAGEMENTS AND CONDITIONS. THE PASSIVE IFF BEACON IS AUTONOMOUS, EXCEPT FOR THE MANUAL/TAMPER DEACTIVATION FEATURE. OTHER THAN ACTIVATION, THE UNIT REQUIRES NO CREW ATTENDANCE FOR FULL OPERATION. IT IS OMNI-DIRECTIONAL, ABLE TO RESPOND TO INTERROGATION FROM HORIZON TO ZENITH, AND AT ALL AZMITH ANGLES SIMULTANEOUSLY. SINCE THE BEACON DOES NOT ACTIVELY TRANSMIT A SIGNAL, IT CANNOT BE USED BY ENEMY FORCES FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OR TARGETING OF FRIENDLY VEHICLES. THE BEACON SYSTEM WOULD ALLOW IDENTIFICATION OF FRIEND OR FOE AT EXTENDED STAND-OFF RANGES, ACTUALLY EXCEEDING GROUND VEHICLE ENEMY TARGET ACQUISITION BY THE HOST TARGETING SYSTEMS. THE BEACONS WILL NOT BE CONDUCTIVE TO COUNTERFEITING, INCREASE THE SIGNATURE, OR DISCLOSE THE LOCATION OR IDENTITY OF THE HOST VEHICLES TO HOSTILE FORCES. IT WILL, HOWEVER, POSITIVELY IDENTIFY A FRIENDLY VEHICLE FROM IDENTICAL SURROUNDING HOSTILE VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, THE SYSTEM WOULD UTILIZE EXISTING MILLIMETER TARGETING AND SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT IN THE ACTIVE INTERROGATION FUNCTION FOR DETECTION/DISCRIMINATION. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS/POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS - THESE PASSIVE BEACONS, NOT REQUIRING EXPENSIVE TRANSMIT/RECEIVE ELECTRONICS, ARE INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVES TO THE TYPICAL TX/RX TRANSMIT DEVICES. THE MOST ECONOMICAL FACET OF THE SYSTEM IS THE POTENTIAL USE OF EXISTENT MILLIMETER TARGETING/SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT. THIS LOW COST WOULD BE CONDUCIVE FOR MASS PRODUCTION OF THESE UNITS.