Geosynchronous Triad Satellite Communications Jammer Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional satellite communications systems are inadequate in managing adaptive jammers affecting airborne intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (AISR) communications, particularly due to insufficient bandwidth, dynamic range limitations, and inability to differentiate between friendly and enemy signals in contested environments.
Innovation Solution
A geosynchronous triad satellite communication system utilizing a formation of three communications satellites orbiting in a geosynchronous orbit, employing sparse aperture and multiuser detection (MUD) processing to achieve wideband communications while suppressing jammers and maintaining communication with multiple assets simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequency hopping spread spectrum systems are used to achieve spreading gain, then communication protection against jammers is improved, but available bandwidth for wideband applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication function across three separate geosynchronous satellites forming a triad formation. Each satellite provides independent communication channels, allowing the system to achieve both spreading gain through multiple access codes and wideband capacity through spatial diversity, resolving the contradiction between protection and bandwidth availability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from single-satellite frequency-domain spreading to multi-satellite spatial-domain spreading. By adding the spatial dimension with three satellites positioned at different longitudes, the system achieves spreading gain through spatial diversity while maintaining wideband capability, overcoming the bandwidth limitation of conventional frequency-hopping systems
2Object-affected harmful factors
If adaptive nulling is implemented on single satellite communications platforms to suppress jammers, then jammer suppression capability is improved, but friendly users in close proximity to jammers are eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the jammer suppression function across three separate satellites, each providing independent nulling capabilities. This segmentation allows the formation to suppress jammers while maintaining coverage of friendly users through combined signal processing, resolving the contradiction between jammer suppression and friendly user protection
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the signals received from three satellites through multiuser detection processing. This combination creates a composite signal that maintains friendly user communications while suppressing jammers through diverse spatial perspectives, overcoming the limitation of single-satellite nulling that eliminates nearby friendly users
3Device complexity
If conventional satellite communications systems are used in contested environments, then system simplicity is maintained, but ability to distinguish friendly signals from jammers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds spatial dimension with three satellites at different longitudes, enabling signal differentiation through geometric diversity. This spatial arrangement provides multiple independent observation angles, allowing the system to distinguish friendly signals from jammers while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized satellite platforms
4Device complexity
If single satellite communications platforms are used, then system complexity is reduced, but bandwidth capacity for wideband applications is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The communication bandwidth is segmented across three satellites, each providing independent wideband channels. This segmentation multiplies the total available bandwidth while keeping each individual satellite relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between system complexity and bandwidth capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the bandwidth capacity of three satellites through coordinated signal processing and multiuser detection. This merging achieves wideband communication capability beyond what a single satellite could provide while maintaining practical system complexity through standardized platform design
Data Source
AI summary
A satellite communication system for airborne and reachback communications may include a formation orbiting in one or more slots of a geosynchronous orbit. The formation may include two or more communications satellites (COMSATs) encircling a ring. Each COMSAT of the two or more COMSATs may include a communication module configured to communicate with a plurality of communications assets in a benign or contested environment. The formation may be configured to allow a first communications asset having a dish antenna with a first configuration to communicate independently with each of the two or more COMSATs in a first scenario. The formation may also be configured to allow a second communications asset having a dish antenna with a second configuration to communicate simultaneously with the two or more COMSATs in a second scenario.