Microwave-photonics direction finding system for interception of low probability of intercept radio frequency signals

Phillip Eric Pace; Chew Kung Tan; Chee K. Ong

doi:10.1117/1.OE.57.2.024103

12 February 2018 Microwave-photonics direction finding system for interception of low probability of intercept radio frequency signals

Phillip Eric Pace, Chew Kung Tan, Chee K. Ong

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 57, Issue 2, 024103 (February 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.57.2.024103

Abstract

Direction finding (DF) systems are fundamental electronic support measures for electronic warfare. A number of DF techniques have been developed over the years; however, these systems are limited in bandwidth and resolution and suffer from a complex design for frequency downconversion. The design of a photonic DF technique for the detection and DF of low probability of intercept (LPI) signals is investigated. Key advantages of this design include a small baseline, wide bandwidth, high resolution, minimal space, weight, and power requirement. A robust postprocessing algorithm that utilizes the minimum Euclidean distance detector provides consistence and accurate estimation of angle of arrival (AoA) for a wide range of LPI waveforms. Experimental tests using frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) and P4 modulation signals were conducted in an anechoic chamber to verify the system design. Test results showed that the photonic DF system is capable of measuring the AoA of the LPI signals with 1-deg resolution over a 180 deg field-of-view. For an FMCW signal, the AoA was determined with a RMS error of 0.29 deg at 1-deg resolution. For a P4 coded signal, the RMS error in estimating the AoA is 0.32 deg at 1-deg resolution.

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Phillip Eric Pace, Chew Kung Tan, and Chee K. Ong "Microwave-photonics direction finding system for interception of low probability of intercept radio frequency signals," Optical Engineering 57(2), 024103 (12 February 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.57.2.024103

Received: 30 June 2017; Accepted: 9 January 2018; Published: 12 February 2018

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