Repurposed Software Programmable Radio Technology to Support Flexible Missile Uplink/Downlink Implementation

The proposed software defined radio is fully programmable and independent of the application. It contains four latest generation Xilinx Zynq XC7Z035-2L SoCs and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces for classified data and waveforms loading. It has been designed to perform in hostile environment and it is equipped with important safety features such as: any information, loaded data and classified waveform instantaneously disappear when the power is disconnected. This makes impossible to extract any classified information from the radio if captured. Waveforms are loaded, via Ethernet, when the power is on. Waveforms can be changed on-the-fly as the environment and the spectral situation change. Our SDR supports multiple waveforms at the same time making it a perfect candidate for applications in which multiple objects need to be controlled at the same time and multiple secure links need to be established at the same time. The large availability of Programmable Logic (PL) resources makes this radio the perfect candidate for supporting complex and cognitive anti-jamming algorithms. The radio is robust against external interference. Even though the radio can cover frequencies between 0.6-12GHz, the digital band is programmable between 200 kHz and 56 MHz and it can be narrowed when the spectral condition worsens. The radio is able to perform Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) and improves performance in congested/interfered spectral conditions. The SDR has been originally thought and designed for the IFPC Increment 2 system which, is a mobile, ground-based weapon system designed to defeat UASs; CMs; and Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (RAM) projectiles. The IFPC network works in a very dynamic spectral environment where the radios have to communicate to multiple entities at the same time. Our radio was originally designed to be mounted on the Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) to command and control up to six interceptors simultaneously however, given its highly programmable nature and its wide band, it can be easily repurposed. The radio has been designed to satisfy Army mission’s strict structural, environmental and thermal requirements. To keep the overall cost fairly low without affecting performance, Space Micro used, where compatible with the mission requirements, Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components. Our radio is highly competitive from a cost perspective.