There are some fundamental principles that apply to all types of jamming and to all jamming employment options. These principles are based on the characteristics of the jamming system and the characteristics of the victim radar. They include frequency matching, continuous interference, signal-to-noise ratio, jamming-to-signal ratio, and burnthrough range. Based on the data provided by ES systems and intelligence evaluations, radar jamming systems must transmit signals at the frequency of the victim radar This applies to both noise and deception jamming. If a jamming signal does not match the transmitter frequency, the jamming signal is not received and displayed on the scope. When a jamming signal matches the transmitter frequency, the jamming signal is received and masks the target display . For maximum effectiveness, a jamming transmitter should produce continuous interference. In much the same way intermittent static on a radio receiver does not completely block out a signal, intermittent jamming on a radar scope may not completely mask the target. An experienced radar operator or advanced automatic tracker can “read through” intermittent jamming and derive sufficient target information to negate jamming effectiveness. While true for noise jamming techniques, continuous interference also applies to deception techniques, especially when target reacquisition is considered. Signal To Noise Ratio The signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio is a measure of the ability of the victim radar to detect targets. It is also an indication of the vulnerability of the radar to certain jamming techniques, especially noise jamming. The signal power density of the target return is so weak that it requires very strong amplification before processing and display. Besides the signal power from the target, some level of thermal noise is also generated and amplified along with the target signal. The radar receiver amplifies both target signal and thermal noise. The output of the radar receiver will contain the target signal and the noise amplified across the bandwidth of the receiver. Separating the desired target signal from the undesired noise signal is one of the major problems confronting radar designers. Target RCS fluctuates based on the changing angle of the antenna beam and corresponding changes in the reflected signal. Effective antenna aperture is also a statistical phenomenon based on the fluctuations in target RCS. The thermal noise generated by a receiver is also a fluctuating factor and must be treated statistically. This means that the S/N ratio is a statistical factor associated with a probability of target detection and a probability of a false alarm. A false alarm occurs when the radar operator or automatic tracking circuit designates a fluctuation in noise level as a target. The higher the S/N ratio, the higher the probability of target detection with a corresponding reduction in the probability of a false alarm. Any action that increases the power in the target signal (for example, increasing transmitted power, increasing antenna gain/aperture area, or decreasing target range) will improve the S/N ratio and improve the probability of target detection. It would also appear that decreasing the bandwidth of the radar receiver will increase the S/N ratio and enhance the probability of target detection. However, if the effective bandwidth of the receiver is reduced, this may eliminate a significant portion of the radar signal spectrum and decrease the probability of target detection. The S/N ratio is also an indication of the range at which a target will be detected. The weak target signal at an extended range is just above the receiver noise level. The target at closer range is easily detected above the noise level. A radar operator or automatic target detector could mistake the very weak target return as a fluctuation in the receiver noise level. This could result in a missed detection. The lack of discrimination between noise and target returns because of a poor S/N ratio can also result in designating fluctuations in the noise level as actual target signals, known as false alarms. To preclude, or minimize false alarms, the radar receiver may be equipped with electronic circuits to establish a false alarm threshold. If the signal strength of a radar return is below this threshold level, it will not be detected or displayed. This false alarm threshold also influences the probability of target detection. With the threshold set too high, many detected targets will not be displayed. Additionally, if the false alarm threshold is raised automatically in relation to the amplitude of the receiver noise, the radar receiver is more vulnerable to noise jamming. For any target return to be detected by the radar, the S/N ratio must be greater than one. If the S/N ratio is less than one, the target will not be detected above the receiver noise level. The purpose of noise jamming is to raise the level of noise in the radar receiver to reduce the S/N ratio to less than one. This masks the presence of the true target return. If a false alarm threshold is used, noise jamming raises this threshold to further complicate target detection Jamming-to-signal (J/S) ratio The jamming-to-signal (J/S) ratio is a fundamental measure of jamming effectiveness. The J/S ratio compares the power in the jamming signal with the power in the radar return. Equation 9-4 is an expression of the J/S ratio. It is important to note that the J/S ratio should be measured at the output of the radar receiver. This will allow consideration of the receiver signal processing gain applied to the jamming signal. The most critical factor in both the S/N and the J/S ratios is range. The S/N ratio is calculated based on R to the fourth power. This equates to a signal traveling from the radar to the target, and back to the radar receiver. The J/S ratio is calculated using R to the second power. This factor reflects the “one way” transmission of the jamming pulse from the jammer to the victim radar's receiver. For a jamming signal to be effective, the J/S ratio must be greater than one. In general, threat radars, especially ground-based radars, transmit much more power than does an airborne jamming system. However, this power must travel twice as far as the airborne jamming signal. At long ranges, a low power jamming system can generate a J/S ratio much greater than one. As the jamming system approaches the target, the distance the radar pulse travels decreases with a corresponding increase of power in the radar return. This reduces the J/S ratio to a value less than one and the radar “sees” the target. This is called the burnthrough range. Burnthrough Burnthrough occurs when the power in the reflected target signal exceeds the power in the jamming signal. Even when an optimum and continuous jamming technique is transmitting on the exact frequency of the victim radar, the jamming starts to lose effectiveness as it nears the radar. For a particular radar jamming technique, burnthrough range depends on the detection capability of the victim radar, expressed as the S/N ratio, and the capability of the aircraft's jamming system, expressed as the J/S ratio. The idea of burnthrough range explains why a jamming technique, especially noise jamming, loses its effectiveness as the aircraft approaches the radar. When plotting the jamming and signal power versus range , these two values intersect at the point where the J/S ratio is one. At closer ranges, the jamming pulse is no longer masking the aircraft, and the aircraft can be detected. Burnthrough range is the point where the radar can see through the jamming. SUMMARY
The purpose of radar jamming is to confuse or deny critical data to the radar systems that play a vital role in supporting the mission of an integrated air defense system. Two types of radar jamming, noise and deception, can be employed in a support-jamming role, or in a self-protection role for individual aircraft. The effectiveness of a jamming technique depends on the ability of the jamming system to generate a jamming signal that replicates the parameters of the victim radar, especially its frequency. The signal-to-noise ratio of the victim radar determines the vulnerability of the radar receiver to jamming while the jamming-to-signaI ratio is an indication of the ability of the jamming system to effectively jam the victim radar. These basic radar jamming concepts are fundamental to understanding the impact of specific jamming techniques on radar systems.
Rolly
9/12/2018 03:28:54 pm
Nice data
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