Uses Two RF Bands Concurrently Without GPS
Persistent Systems (www.persistent.com) released its new Multi-Band Tracking Antenna on 13 April. Intended for improved ground-based communication with, and tracking of, friendly manned and unmanned aircraft – even in hostile RF- and GPS-denied environments, the device can find and follow aircraft without relying on a satellite-based tracking system like GNSS or GPS.
This new capability that connectivity with ISR aircraft can be maintained, even when they are disrupted, denied, or spoofed. “This is a game-changer. Now connectivity is maintained even when an enemy is actively denying us access to GPS,” said Ben Wring, Senior Program Engineer at Persistent Systems. “The tracking system remains locked onto the aircraft and mission data continues to flow without disruption.”
The tracking antenna system can now mount two MPU5 MANET [mobile ad hoc networking] radios, each operating in a different RF band. When encountering interference, the system will automatically use the band delivering the maximum performance – a critical capability, given the EW threat from near-peer adversaries. “By operating on multiple RF bands, you can communicate through adversarial interference […] Whether they deny GPS or attack our transmission directly, the system will maintain connectivity,” added Wring.
The system comes with a single multi-band/multi-polarity antenna feed with independent horizontal and vertically polarised inputs. There is no need to change feed when changing RF bands – a single feed covers L-, S-, and C-bands, enabling polarisation diversity and maximising MIMO [multiple-input, multiple-output] radio capacity.
The Multi-Band Tracking Antenna supports simultaneous use of an MPU5 with a third-party radio, the latter benefitting from the tracker’s ability to operate in GPS-denied environments, transmitting to the platform over the same multi-band antenna feed horn.
“Like its predecessor, the new antenna system is easily deployable and has a range over 120 miles,” Wring said. “The new system is currently shipping to customers, and an upgrade kit is available to customers with the existing antenna kit.”
