Low Probability of Intercept Radar

[The SC]

Seeing, without being seen...

• Low probability of intercept radar implies, that due to:
– Low peak and average power
– Wide bandwidth
– Frequency or modulation variability

• The radar is difficult to intercept with a passive receiver
• Relies on antenna patterns, scan patterns, and waveforms


Low Probability of Identification

• A radar that uses a specially emitted waveform intended to prevent a non-cooperative intercept receiver from intercepting and detecting its emission, but if intercepted, makes identification of the emitted waveform modulation and its parameters difficult.

http://radar-engineer.com/files/Lecture_LPI_Radar.pdf
http://radar-engineer.com/files/Lecture_LPI_Radar.pdf

 

[Penguin]

LPI-Radar
LPI radar („Low Probability of Intercept”) is a class of radar systems that possess certain performance characteristics that make them nearly undetectable by today's intercept receivers. Low probability of intercept features prevent the radar from tripping off alarm systems or passive radar-detection equipments in a target. This features include:

• using an antenna with a narrow beam and low side lobes that is hard to spot from off its boresight;
• only transmitting radar pulses when necessary;
• reducing the transmitted pulse-power;
• spreading the radar pulses over a wide band so there will only be a very small signal on any one band; or
• varying transmission parameters such as
  • pulse form,
  • frequency, or
  • pulse repetition frequency (PRF),
  jumping around in an unpredictable fashion, not staying in one place long enough to register,
• using an intra pulse modulation with an inconspicuously wave-form (e.g. a pseudo-random bit pattern).

The function of an LPI radar is to prevent its interception by an Electronic Support receiver. This objective is generally achieved through the use of a radar waveform that is mismatched to those waveforms for which an Electronic Support receiver is tuned. Consequently, a conventional Electronic Support receiver can only detect an LPI radar at very short ranges.

The LPI radar transmit a low power intra pulse modulated waveform so that the range of detected target can be determined with a good range resolution. This modulation may be phase or frequency modulated, or pseudo-random, noise like modulation. A typical LPI radar has a switchable pulse-power output of up to 1 Watt. A conventional pulse radar needs at least 10 kW for a similar detection range of targets. This allows the LPI radar to achieve a processing gain, with respect to an Electronic Support receiver, that is equal to the time-bandwidth product of the radar waveform. This processing gain allows the LPI radar as a primary radar and fourth-root dependence of the two way travel of electromagnetic waves, to overcome the range-squared advantage of the Electronic Support receiver in conventional situations.

However, LPI radars are limited to short range applications. A relatively long transmitted pulse width still applies to the transmission, which requires the duplexer to remained aligned to the transmitter throughout the pulse and the receiver ist switched off during this time. Therefore many LPI radars have separate transmit and receive antennas that are co-mounted. Some recent LPI radars can use instead the pulse radar technology an FMCW- mode to reduce the transmitted power substantially.

http://www.radartutorial.eu/02.basics/LPI radar.en.html

More? See: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/lpir.htm

DETECTION AND JAMMING LOW PROBABILITY OF INTERCEPT (LPI) RADARS
http://dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a456960.pdf