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New Integrated Naval EW SystemsBy Dr. Filippo Neri, Virtualabs srl, Roma, ItalyE-mail: filippo.neri@virtualabs.itWeb Site: www.virtulabs.it

AOC International Convention, Adelaide 26-27 May 2008

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Present Situation

So far, the main Naval ECM task has been (and it is) thatof trying to defeat the terminal guidance of anti-ship missiles.

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Situation Analysis (1/3)

By considering the assets already available on board of a ship:

- missiles

- Gun System

- CIWS

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Situation Analysis (2/3)

… by considering also the generally available Chaff and Flares dispensers.

RBOC DAGAIE

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Situation Analysis (3/3)

… it appears that the ship’s defence is well organised.

Max Radar RangOn sea skimmere

(11-12 Km)

Missile 2

Missile 1

Max Designation Range

On sea skimmere(8-10 Km)

Missile 1=KO

Missile 2=KO

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Targeting Targeting

Max Radar Range

Aircraft 1

Aircraft 2

Enemy Ship

Aircraft 1

Aircraft 2

Coordinated Attack

The only problems couldarise in presence of a POSSIBLE coordinatedattack.

In fact, a coordinated attack can generatea situation of SATURATION

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Max Radar RangOn sea skimmere

(11-12 Km)

Missile 2

Missile 1Missile 3

Missile 4

Max Designation RangeOn sea skimmere

(8-9 Km)

Missile 1=KO

Missile 2=KO

Coordinated Attack Effects

Under

SATURATION CONDITION

the best answer is, today,to exploit ECM Systemsthat can care the attacking missiles notmanaged by Hard Kill !

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Problems in the present situation

By considering the characteristics of the most dangerous threats, i.e:- monopulse seekers with ECCM:

Frequency Agility/DiversityLeading edge techniquesTrack-on-jam capability

We can argue that it will be very unlikely to achieve a sure “Soft Kill”capability against modern anti ship missiles.

“Leading Edge” ECCM technique can destroy the RGPO effectiveness

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Noise Jamming EffectsFrequency Agility strongly reducesNoise Jamming Effectiveness

1 Km0.1 Km 10 Km 100 Km

ERPR=97 dBmλλλλ2 = -34 dB/m2Gr =30 dBRCS = 40 dB/m2Lr = 3 dB

J/S

- 50 dBm

J (Fix.Freq)

-30

-10

0 dBm

Range Burn-Through @ R< 0.1 Km

Range Burn-Through @ R > 10 Km

J (Agile Freq)

ERPJ = 80 dBmλλλλ2 = -34 dB/m2Lp = 3 dBLj= 6 dBLjag=25 dB

P

f

JT

f

TTTT TJP

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ECM “working” solutions

The only ECM techniques that can have a real chance of defeating the modern threats are represented or by the Cross Eye Jamming or by the exploitation of Off Board Decoys.

But, as it is well known, both techniques are not an easy solution or due to the technological complexity or due to the high life cycle cost

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Present on board ECM Solution requires high ERP

The High ERP necessary at short range to defend high RCStargets implies a costly ECM System.Therefore high ERP Systems can be a “not cost-effective”solution (especially if the other possible Defence Systemsare considered: Missiles, Guns, CIWS and Chaff dispensers!),as many Navies believe.

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Saturation Conditions pre-requisites

The saturation condition can happen in presence of :

- coordinated enemy attacks

- sudden attacks

The saturation condition can happen, in the present days, becausemost of the ship Defence Organisations are just waiting the arrival of anti ship missiles and nothing is done to prevent the launch of such missiles

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Saturation Conditions Avoidance

The saturation condition can be avoided if the enemy sensors are suitably jammed.

In fact, the impossibility of judging where the target is, will:- delay the anti ship missile launch- prevent the possibility of a coordinated enemy attack

Of course an effective enemy sensors confusion is generated only ifALL the radar sensors are suitably jammed!

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Confusion Jamming TechniquesAn effective jamming confusion is generated if clever “Multiple False Targets” are generated against all the radar sensors to confuse the enemy TEWA function.(Note that “Noise jamming” is of little help against modern search-acquisition radar!)

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The new Paradigm

The old paradigm is:- jam the incoming anti ship missile (soft kill to help hard kill) inthe final homing phase (this means to jam seekers at X-K band, at short distance!)

The new paradigm is:- first jam all search acquisition enemy radar(this means jam ALL search acquisition radar, at ALL frequency bands, at medium - long distance!)- as a second priority jam the incoming anti ship missiles, if necessary, in their final homing.(possible against modern seekers)

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New Paradigm Consequences

The new paradigm consequences are:

- much higher jamming signal complexity is required (more brain &technology)

- much lower ERP is required (less production cost: Affordability and Cost-effectiveness)

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Cost – Effective solutions

Cost effective solution are possible today thanks to the exploitation of advanced Technologies like:

- DRX for high performance ESM

- DRX for High Performances ECM

- Solid state TX Modules for effective high performance ECM.

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Cost – Effective solutions

Integrated System Block Diagram

UPCONV

CPU

DRX

DRX

LNA

LNA

LNA

LNA

F/RSWTCH

IFR

OLSEL.

UPCONV

OLSEL.

F/RSWTCH

6 - 18 GHz

0.5 -18 GHz

2 - 6 GHz

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DRX output (CW + 2 pulsed signals)

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DRX output (CW + 1 pulsed Strong Signal)

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DRX Output (CW + Barker code)

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DRX Output (CW + Chirp)

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DRX Benefits

• The difficulties necessary to overcome for the DRX exploitation as the MAIN measurement device, are well compensated by the fact that the DRX can perform all the necessary measurements (TOA, PW, Frequency, DOA, Amplitude, MOP).

• Moreover, the DRX is the ideal device for “Wide Band” ECM signals generation, can replace successfully the old DRFM and can provide superior performances.

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Possible Digital ESM/ECM Performances (1/2)Architecture Wide Open Channellised+ Integrated Full Band ECMRF Instantaneous Bandwidth 0.5 to 18 GHz POI 100 %Max. sensitivity down to -84 dBm (programmable/adaptive between

-74 to -84 in the full RF spectrum))On board Compatibility granted by sw operations in the Digital Rx channels Emitters types Pulsed, MOP, CWDOA accuracy < 1.5 deg (ADOA+DTOA techniques)Frequency accuracy < 1 MHz rms (instantaneous)

<100 kHz on designated emitters.Number of Digital Channels 256 (or more, non real time)Traffic > 1 Mpps and 4 CW signalsEmitters detection Digital Reliable Automatic Extractor (sw)Number of active tracks 256Passive Location Accuracy <20% (width DTOA) Emitters analysis yesFingerprinting algorithms (sw option)ECM Freq. Coverage 2- 18 GHzAngles Coverage 360°Az & >30°ElevationMulti-threats 4+4Jamming Techniques ProgrammableLow Band ERP 60 dBmHigh Band ERP 65 dBM

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Possible Digital ESM/ECM Performances (2/2)

The cost of such an Integrated EW System can be as low as that of a legacy ESM System!

System Composition -4 pre-amplified antennas assemblies-1 DMU (DESM Main Unit) composed of:

-1 dual Instantaneous Frequency Router-1 dual DRX + 1 Fast Signal Processing -1 Processor and I/O Unit- 1 JP processing-1 Up Conversion board-Power Supply

DMU Weight <15 KgDMU Power Consumption 400 WLow Band ECM Weight 20 KgHigh Band ECM weight 15 KgTotal ECM Power Cons. 2 KW

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Digital ESM-ECM Main Unit Composition

PS

IFR T-DRX

PPC+I/O

VME FORMAT

J Up-C

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New Naval Integrated EW System Composition

DMU 40*40*30 cm

15 Kg

HB SS Power Units

LB SS Power Units

F/R SWITCH

LB Ant. Arrays

HB Ant. Arrays

Front

Rear

Rear

Front

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Littoral Scenario Simulation

GR(F) 2

AI(F) 2

AI(F) 1SHIP

AI(E) 1 AI(E) 2

SH (E) 4

SH (E) 1SH (E) 2

SH (E) 3

SAM

SSM (E)

GR(F) 1

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Scenario “Extracted” by the Wide Open DRX