"Study of the LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) properties of multifunction seeker waveforms based on 3D antennas and robustness against jamming."
Lead Research Organisation:
Cranfield University
Department Name: Cranfield Defence and Security
Abstract
Radio Frequency (RF) Seekers use a mechanically steered antenna. This restricts the seeker's coverage of potential targets, as well as increasing radar failures by the failure of the moving parts associated with providing the scan rate. Research has been undertaken to develop an electronically steered 3D antenna array. The new antenna will provide a much faster scan rate with greater accuracy than the mechanically steered system, as well as a greater coverage by being able to steer beams in all directions. The new 3D antenna will also be able to generate multiple simultaneous beams and potentially operate in multifunction mode as well as having an increased dwell time on the target.
This PhD is about jamming novel RF missile seekers to protect assets from being destroyed by a missile. This is with respect to seekers which use 2D or 3D phased antennas to be able to conduct multiple tasks at the same time such as using multiple simultaneous beams to track a target and provide altimetry information. Jamming in this context can be defined as transmitting a waveform which reduces the seeker's ability to guide the missile to its target. The scenario to a practical implementation of the jamming techniques is to defend ships from long range cruise missiles that could be using the novel antenna and waveforms.
In this project, we propose to investigate the vulnerability of the 3D seeker and investigate the robustness of the seeker's modes with respect to jamming.
This PhD is about jamming novel RF missile seekers to protect assets from being destroyed by a missile. This is with respect to seekers which use 2D or 3D phased antennas to be able to conduct multiple tasks at the same time such as using multiple simultaneous beams to track a target and provide altimetry information. Jamming in this context can be defined as transmitting a waveform which reduces the seeker's ability to guide the missile to its target. The scenario to a practical implementation of the jamming techniques is to defend ships from long range cruise missiles that could be using the novel antenna and waveforms.
In this project, we propose to investigate the vulnerability of the 3D seeker and investigate the robustness of the seeker's modes with respect to jamming.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alessio Balleri (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Gareth Frazer (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509127/1 | 01/10/2015 | 27/06/2021 | |||
| 1802227 | Studentship | EP/N509127/1 | 22/02/2016 | 21/02/2020 | Gareth Frazer |
| Description | The main output of the research is a novel technique to insert false targets in a radar image which was acquired using Doppler Beam Sharpening (DBS). Specifically, a technique to insert a false target at a precise location within a DBS image against an Anti-Ship Missile which is using a DBS mode for acquiring targets. In order for a jammer to induce a false target within a missile seeker DBS image, it requires knowledge of the missile trajectory, as well as the ability to coherently modify the missile seeker waveform. A jamming scheme was derived to detail exactly how the jammer should modify a missile seeker waveform to place a false target at a desired location. An experimental setup capable of taking DBS images and demonstrating jamming was designed and built as part of the research. The experimental data gained through this set up proved the jamming scheme to be accurate and effective, when all parameters of the scenario (e.g. missile trajectory, waveform variables, etc) are known. This jamming scheme was then analysed to assess the performance of the jammer when parameters of the scenario were incorrectly estimated by the jammer. |
| Exploitation Route | The Marine and Defence sectors could build on this research in a number of ways: Missile seeker designers could take these jamming techniques into consideration to make their seekers more robust to jamming. Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) designers could incorporate the jamming methods into their jammers to protect ships and ground based targets against missiles using Doppler Beam Sharpening. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |