Knowledge-Aided Kinematics Estimation and Tracking of Low-Flying Airborne Targets Using Matched Terrain Processing (MTP)

ORINCON has developed a family of predictive propagation environment signal processing techniques under the proprietary umbrella term matched terrain processing (MTP). The MTP techniques are knowledge-aided approaches that exploit new generations ofhigh-spatial-resolution geospatial databases, such as DTED, LULC and RF bistatic backscatter characterization tables. The MTP approach was first successfully demonstrated by passively intercepting signals (including their interactions with surroundingterrain) from a ground-based emitter, to geolocate the emitter using a single airborne platform (normally requiring multiple platforms).During the Phase I effort, we successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept complementary MTP approach that featured an active radar collection platform in which backscattered signals returning from the a passive low-flying aircraft and the surroundingterrain were successfully used to estimate the height of the low-flying target (normally unable to estimate due to the broad elevational beam-pattern of the collection aircraft antenna).As part of a Phase II effort, we propose to increase the dimensionality of the kinematic estimation beyond that of the one-dimensional estimation of height, to enhance the fidelity of the signal environment and estimation, thereby improve the estimationaccuracy. Robustness will be tested with a variety of collection scenarios and culminating with a fast implementation of the MTP technique.