Passive coherent detection and target location with multiple non-cooperative transmitters

Abstract

Passive bistatic radars (PBR) and passive multistatic radars (PMR) use opportunistic transmitters to detect and locate targets. In this thesis, a maritime scenario was modeled with merchant vessels serving as multiple non-cooperative opportunistic transmitters while a frigate warship equipped with Electronic Warfare (EW) and Direction Finding (DF) receivers takes on the role of the receiver in a PBR/PMR configuration. The targets are assumed to be the generic Formidable-class frigate. A MATLAB model is developed to simulate the operating environment and passive detection and location process. Detection coverage is investigated to propose optimal PBR/PMR configurations and geometry, while elliptical and hyperbolic target location methods are explored to quantify the effects of PBR/PMR parameters and geometry on target estimated location uncertainty.