RF Sensor Fusion in Congested and Contested Environments

This project aims to research innovative concepts applied to the challenge of optimally using multiple RF sensors coherently with the objective of improved detection, classification and wider sensing abilities within a complex congested and contested Electromagnetic (EM) environment. UCL has a coherent multistatic RF sensor radar called NeXtRAD which may be exploited to validate algorithm and simulation based concepts in sensing. This sensor is capable of L and X band transmission across a network of 3 radar nodes. Diversity in geometry, frequency, waveform and processing have yet to be full exploited in the open literature and demonstration would be a key goal of this work. Thales is a world leading expert within the RF engineering domain with a strong Research & Development focus on Radar, Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) and Electronic Surveillance (ES) capabilities. This partnership through a EPSRC CASE Award will look to exploit expertise at both institutes to produce new concepts in this rapidly developing area.

In addition to the work with multistatic radar this research will also consider the fusion of radar with other RF modalities including ES and ECM. In the modern battlefield it is increasingly important to be able to dominate in the EM spectrum in order to be able to have freedom of movement and action. The optimal way of providing the best level of knowledge of current threats would be to fused the information a variety of RF sensors currently generate independently.