Deception Approach to Track-to-Track Radar Fusion Using Noncoherent Dual-Source Jamming

Abstract

Dual-source jamming is an effective way to prevent monopulse radar systems from performing accurate angle measurements. In this investigation, based on noncoherent dual-source jamming, we propose a cooperative deception approach, which has the benefit of causing persistent and large angular measurement errors to protect a true target and therefore can greatly reduce the discrimination capability of a distributed track-to-track radar fusion system. A scenario involving a single target accompanied by a digital radio frequency memory (DRFM)-based repeater jammer countering two radar systems is illustrated. By controlling the amplitude ratio and time delay in a statistical manner, the active decoy signal and target echo signal can form a noncoherent angular glint effect and result in the deviation of the angle tracking loop of the two radar systems from the true target in opposite directions. The track-to-track association distance related to the retransmission parameters is explicitly derived, and its statistical characteristics are analyzed in detail. Simulations verify the feasibility of the approach. The advantage of the approach lies in its ability to destroy the so-called “common origin” signature of the physical target by injecting false angular information. The direct result is that the true target might not successfully complete the process of track-to-track association, thereby enabling us to realize the desirable effect of “disguise the true target and instead show false decoys”.

Keywords

• Dual-source jamming
• networked radar system
• radar countermeasures
• radar tracking
• track-to-track fusion