1. Passive Radar: An Emerging Technology
Contents
Passive Radar: An Emerging Technology
Presenter: Dr. Francois Maasdorp (CSIR)
for SATC 2019, Pretoria, July 2019

2. Contents
Background on Passive Radar Applications and Benefits International R&D and systems Past R&D in South Africa Present & Future R&D in South Africa (CSIR Perspective) Conclusion
This will be done at a later time

3. Radar – As we know it
Transmit / Receive

4. Bistatic Radar
Transmit
Receive

5. Passive Radar / Passive Coherent Location
Receive
Use Broadcasting Tower as transmitter

6. Benefits and Applications
Cost effective radar
No transmission subsystem
No RF spectrum license
Low hardware cost
Low life cycle/maintenance cost
Non-cooperative platform detection
technique – similar to PSR
Covert & Mobile (Receive only)
Foreseen Applications
Gap filling to radar networks (Civil Aviation & Defence)
Incl. covering small airdromes
Border safeguarding
Non-cooperative – Flight MH370 evidence
Congested Spectrum – Drone application

7. Passive Radar Research – International (1)
Passive Radar Emerging Technology
Significant research at Conferences/Journals since 2010
Lead: USA 41.8%, China 12.5% …
South Africa 0.6%
Technology demonstrator developments
Research Institutes
Academia
Industry [

8. Passive Radar Research – International (2)
Passive Radar evaluated under SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) program
Replace PSR with Passive Radar?
Free spectrum for 5G
Clearer view on Passive Radar by 2020

9. International Systems – only few
Silent Sentry
Lockheed Martin (USA)
FM Towers (100MHz)
220km 10m^2
Track 200+ targets
TwInvis
Hensholdt (Germany)
Multiband FM/DAB/DVB-T
250km detection range
Track 200 aircraft in 3D
Other
Aulos (Selex – Italy)
JY-50 (China)
HA 100 (Thales - France)
and more…
Aulos
TwInvis
JY-50
Silent Sentry

10. FM Radio Coverage – Southern African Countries
80 km
80 km
150 km
150 km

11. Past CSIR Research Static Single Site Tracking
Large Commercial Aircraft
Small Commercial Aircraft
Multi-static Target Tracking
Target Recognition
Propeller driven aircraft
Moving Receiver

12. Passive Radar R&D – South Africa
CSIR (Institute Role)
University of Cape Town (Academic)
University of Pretoria (Academic)
Peralex Electronics (Industry)
Lochtron (Industry)
Armscor (Funding)

13. Present & Future R&D at the CSIR – Passive Radar Long Term Test
Passive Radar Emerging Technology
Significant research at Conferences/Journals since 2010
Yet a lack of market acceptance of this technology to date
Lack of long term qualification data
CSIR in the process of
Establishing the performance metrics of a Passive Radar using FM radio
Sufficient FM radio infrastructure throughout Africa

14. Passive Radar - Test Bed Development
5 receiver nodes
In Gauteng Region
Dual baselines at some Rx
1 central node at CSIR
Target tracking
Database
Truth data interface
Web Display
Connected with high bandwidth capacity links
1/10 Gbps South African Research Network (SANREN)

15. FM Band Passive Radar Performance Characterisation – Gauteng Region

16. Passive Radar Nodes – Various Sites/Nodes
OR Tambo
Antennas fixed to balconies
NWU - Potchefstroom
SANSA
TUT - Emalahleni

17. Passive Radar – Equipment at each receiver node
Consist of Hardware
3/4 x FM radio band antennas
GPS Antenna
RF Cabling
RF Receiver
Processing PC with GPU
Software
Range, Doppler, Angle Processing
Server, Client Software

18. Passive Radar – Equipment at the central node
Consist of Hardware
1 x Processing PC
1 x DB PC
Software of Processing PC
VPN software
Node interface software
Tracking Software
Web Display Server
Off line processing
Statistics generation

19. Passive Radar Web Display

20. Some Tracking Results – Web Display (1)
Approach to OR Tambo (8h15)

21. Some Tracking Results – Web Display (2)
Approach to OR Tambo (8h17)

22. Some Tracking Results – Web Display (3)
Manoeuvring aircraft – C172 (Parys region)

23. Some Tracking Results – Web Display (4)
Small SLG4 aircraft (Vaal dam region)

24. Some Tracking Results – Web Display (5)
E135 & DH8D aircraft split (Heidelberg Region)

25. Some Tracking Results – Web Display (7)
Long Range – A319 Track (close to Lesotho)

26. Some Tracking Results – Web Display (8)
Long Range – A319 ID (close to Lesotho)

27. Probability of Detection: Prelim Results
OR Tambo: Joint Detections:

28. Current CSIR Focus – Passive Radar Long Term Test
Gauteng 5 Node FM based Passive Radar Infrastructure – Static
Performance characterisation of POD, PFA, Accuracy
Given
Seasonal changes,
Weather changes,
Transmitter on-times etc.
Digital TV (Digital Video Broadcasting)
Higher frequency, smaller antennas
Higher range resolution
Drones
Cars
Area coverage yet to be done

29. Conclusion Passive Radar is an emerging technology
Foreseen Applications for Passive Radar
Gap filling to radar networks (Civil Aviation & Defence)
Aircraft using FM radio
Aircraft/Drones/Cars using DVB-T

30. Francois Maasdorp (fmaasdorp@csir.co.za)
Thank you
Francois Maasdorp