The detection of unknown waveforms in ESM receivers: FFT-based real-time solutions

TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering

MacKerron, Graham Henry ; Mulgrew, Bernard

University:University of Glasgow

Department:School of Engineering

关键词: Low probability of intercept, LPI, waveforms, radar, electronic support measures, ESM, electronic warfare, EW, model-based design, MBD, spatially-variant apodization, SVA, multitaper method, MTM, range advantage, digital receiver, DRx, SELEX Galileo, radar warning receiver, RWR;   

Others  :  http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3007/1/2011mackerronengd.pdf

来源: University of Glasgow

【 摘 要 】

Radars and airborne electronic support measures (ESMs) systems are locked in a tactical battle to detect each other whilst remaining undetected. Traditionally, the ESM system has a range advantage. Low probability of intercept (LPI) waveform designers are, however, more heavily exploiting the matched filter radar advantage and hencedegrading the range advantage.There have been literature and internal, SELEX Galileo proposals to regain some ESM processing gain of low probability of intercept (LPI) waveforms. This study, however, has sought digital signal processing (DSP) solutions which are: (1) computationally simple; (2) backward-compatible with existing SELEX Galileo digital receivers (DRxs) and (3) have low resource requirements. The two contributions are complementary and result in a detector which is suitable for detection of most radar waveforms.The first contribution is the application of spatially variant apodization (SVA) in a detection role. Compared to conventional window functions, SVA was found to be beneficial for the detection of sinusoidal radar waveforms as it surpassed the fixed window function detectors in all scenarios tested.The second contribution shows by simulation that simple spectral smoothing techniques improved DRx LPI detection capability to a level similar to more complicated non-parametric spectral estimators and far in excess of the conventional (modified) periodogram.The DSP algorithms were implemented using model-based design (MBD). The implication is that a detector with improved conventional and LPI waveform detection capability can be created from the intellectual property (IP). Estimates of the improvement in SELEX Galileo DRx system detection range are provided in the conclusion.