Cloning or recreating radar signatures for the purpose of deceiving enemy missiles and aircraft is a kind of high-tech electronic warfare (EW). It is part of electronic warfare and modern warfare to confuse hostile use of force.
In contemporary EW threat, being able to clone a radar means to so perfectly mimic the signal and portrayal of said radar system that:
Techniques Used
Sample use case: An airplane emits 3 fake signals of the jet and FOOs enemy radars and missiles with DRFM (Digital Radio Frequency Memory).
Strategic Goals
Radar Cloning in Real-Life Systems
Challenges
Future Trends
In contemporary EW threat, being able to clone a radar means to so perfectly mimic the signal and portrayal of said radar system that:
- It looks real to the enemy sensors.
- It can deflect or confuse missiles, drones or surveillance aircraft.
Techniques Used- DRFM (Digital Radio Frequency Memory)
- It picks up enemy radar signals in real time.
- Stores, modifies, and re-emits them as false returns or targets.
- Can simulate many artificial a/c or poses.
Sample use case: An airplane emits 3 fake signals of the jet and FOOs enemy radars and missiles with DRFM (Digital Radio Frequency Memory).- Decoy Systems (e.g., MALD)
- Drones that replicate true RCSs are Miniature Air-Launched Decoys (MALDs).
- They fool enemy air defenses into mistaking them for real planes or missiles.
- Aircraft- or ship-launched ahead of a strike to overwhelm defenses.
- Ground-Based Radar Simulators
- Were previously airbase/ship radar false signatures projection.
- These are transportable or inflatable units that have been used previously in wartime to deceive surveillance or satellite reconnaissance.
- ASP and MSTlinkedin
- AI and machine learning employed in real-time study of enemy radar actions.
- Clones a signature of target attacking query signals passes and dodges from obtaining-dart system for guided weapon.
Strategic Goals- NOFOG targeting systems (SA missiles, AWACS).
- Conceal expensive assets such as stealth jets or command centers.
- Divert effectiveness of air defense.
- Enhance air/surface/ground survivability for aircraft, ships, and ground systems.
Radar Cloning in Real-Life Systems| System | Description |
|---|---|
| AN/ALQ-218 | US Navy EW system w/Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) based jamming |
| MALD-J (USA) | Jamming/deception with radar mimicking jammer/decoy |
| Khibiny (Russia) | ECM pod for Su-34: It imitates radar energy or aircraft from a held view |
| JY-27A (China) | Long-range radar, anti-stealth and spoofing modes |
Challenges- Live accuracy: Here, they need to replicate signals to within enemy specs exactly.
- Signal genuineness: Should not become a sound-fighting victim.
- Counter-EW: Today’s sophisticated radar systems rely on AI filtering to identify false echoes.
Future Trends- On-the-fly AI-fed ECM that will learn, and adjust.
- Hives of Guandao decoys with radar and IR decoys.
- Quantum radar: A burgeoning field - Quantum technology of the future.
