Radar Jamming via Earth Surface Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic countermeasures for jamming interceptor radar systems are ineffective, particularly against 'home-on-jam' interceptors and monopulse or Lobe-on-Receive Only radar equipment, and chaff or aerodynamic decoys offer limited protection in heavily defended zones.
Innovation Solution
An electronic jamming technique that directs a narrow jamming radio beam towards the Earth's surface, scattering the radiation to create a decoy source that diverts interceptors away from the attacking aircraft, utilizing the scattered radiation to mask the target and prevent effective guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional electronic noise jamming is used, then the jamming signal is simple to generate, but it is ineffective against home-on-jam interceptors that use directional control by making use of the jamming signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a scattering surface (the Earth's surface) as an intermediary to redirect the jamming signal. The jamming signal is transmitted toward the scattering surface, which then scatters it back toward the interceptor, creating a deceptive echo that causes the interceptor to home in on the ground instead of the attacking aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a false copy of the jamming signal by having the scattering surface reflect and scatter the signal back toward the interceptor. This copied signal appears to come from the ground, mimicking a legitimate target echo and tricking the interceptor's homing system.
2Reliability
If inverse gain repeater is used to create distorted echo signals, then the radar can be unlocked, but it is ineffective against monopulse radar sets and Lobe-on-Receive Only radar equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal jamming approach by using the scattering surface to generate deceptive echoes that work against multiple radar types simultaneously. The scattered signal appears to come from the ground, creating a false target that attracts monopulse and lobe-on-receive radars just as effectively as conventional radars, making the jamming technique adaptable to various radar systems.
3Reliability
If chaff is used for jamming, then it provides some protection, but it offers relatively little protection against presently known radar techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical chaff system with an electronic jamming system that uses radio wave scattering. Instead of relying on physical chaff particles to reflect radar waves, the system transmits electronic jamming signals that are scattered by the Earth's surface, providing superior protection against modern radar techniques.
4Reliability
If aerodynamic decoys are used, then they can divert interceptors, but it may be impossible to carry such decoys in sufficient number to ward off all interceptors when flying through heavily defended zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates multiple virtual decoys by having the scattering surface generate scattered jamming signals in different directions. Instead of carrying physical decoys, the system uses the Earth's surface to create multiple deceptive signal sources that can divert multiple interceptors simultaneously, eliminating the limitation of carrying a finite number of physical decoys.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively renders interceptor radar systems ineffective by causing them to home in on the decoy source, rather than the actual target, thereby increasing the chances of evading interception, although it may not be 100% effective at all altitudes and ranges.
Implementation Method 1
directing a narrow jamming radio beam towards some scattering surface (Ordinarily the surface of the earth). After scattering, the jamming radiation appears to an interceptor as though it were emenating from the scattering surface
Data Source
AI summary
A method of jamming radar apparatus carried by interceptor aircraft comprising producing a narrow radio beam of a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the radar apparatus carried by an attacking aircraft and directing the beam towards the earth to produce scattered radiation from the surface thereof which the radar of the interceptor will home on causing the interceptor to divert its course towards the scattering source.