Performances of a Doppler based direct Passive Location Technique

Passive location techniques have always been considered an important topic and in particular recently, since digital signal processing (DSP) methods make the needed signal parameter estimation available. The possibility to locate radar emitters avoiding transmission is crucial in a variety of military applications, in particular when a flying platform (aircraft or helicopter) is entering in an unknown (and potentially hostile) area. Elettronica SpA (ELT) gave start in 2004 to an experimental campaign in this field with the support and the collaboration of the Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD). In this contest the following activities have been carried out (1)theoretical study (with analytically derived and simulated results) of a passive location algorithm (2)design and development of a passive location demonstrator (PLD) qualified for flight (3) field tests (July 2006) performed in Sardegna (Salto di Quirra). This article presents the passive location algorithm selected for field tests with analytical performance prediction. The PLD and the field tests are described and main results are reported. Location accuracy demonstrated to be in the order of 10% of emitter distance.