Space-Borne Passive Bistatic (Multistatic) GMTI Radar Using SIGINT Assets

Observation of the earth by space-borne radar is an essential feature of present and future surveillance and reconnaissance. The ability to provide continuous observation over extended time periods and large overland areas, as well as detection andtracking of Time Critical ground moving targets (TCTs) such as a mobile Scud transporter erector launcher (TEL) plays a predominant role in this context.Current space-borne SIGINT assets are involved in the remote sensing and processing of data from foreign radars, communication signals and other RF and microwave sensors in order to obtain information about the capabilities of these sensors. Importantfeatures of these systems are the use of sensitive receivers and other devices that record data for later analysis.Combining the concept of space-borne Moving Target Indication functions (MTI) with SIGINT assets can provide for improved strategic or tactical situation assessment and thus reduce the uncertainty and ambiguity of the threat assessment product. PRAproposes a unique and innovative concept to extend the present capabilities of SIGINT assets to assist in MTI functions. Projected future reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition needs call for a space system able to provide support for near-continuous, all-weather wide area surveillance, attack operations, indications and warning, and assessment missions. OneConcept of Operations (CONOPS) describes the military utility of a space based Moving Target Indicator (SBMTI). This envisions a constellation of space based radar satellites gathering moving target indicator (MTI) and synthetic aperture (SAR) imagery.SBMTI advantages include coverage over denied and high-threat territory, keeping U.S., and allied personnel out of harm's way, coverage for blind spots and screened areas, supplementing theater assets to greatly extend viewing ranges, and providing rapidaccess to cover TCTs such as Scud TEL tracks. Spaced based concepts have been explored, such as Starlite and TechSat 21, which consisted of either a large constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites or clusters of micro-satellites flying in formationand operating cooperatively to perform the function of much larger, complex, and expensive single satellites, respectively. Affordability constraints have limited demonstration of these concepts and thus delayed an opportunity to access such rich sourcesof information that could possibly allow U.S. decision makers to be able to direct action that would significantly shorten a conflict and/or eliminate its impact on civilian populations.The value of this project is to leverage existing space-based SIGINT platforms to provide for a SBMTI capability that doesn't exist today.