Reduced emission sensors for Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD)

Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) presents difficult challenges because of the very large threat envelope that systems must be address. Areté proposes to demonstrate and extend a TRL 5, passive (zero emission) sensor capable of detecting and tracking many SHORAD. Areté designed the sensor to be compact, lightweight, rugged, and low cost yet provide a wide field of regard and significant threat-approach warning times. Single sensor operation provides weapons cueing while the use of multiple sensors with overlapping fields of regard provides a targeting solution. Areté’s Phase I plan demonstrates the sensor against swarms of sUAS and drones of various sizes flown in smaller numbers. In addition, sensor enhancements proposed for study in Phase I and incorporation in Phase II will extend operational capabilities to perform identification and nighttime operation. The high TRL of Areté’s platform significantly reduces program risk while proving the feasibility of a low emission signature sensor to meet SHORAD mission challenges.