IFF systems have been around for a number of years and have proved their usefulness on all types of aircraft and ships. New systems such as Mark XV are being developed to improve interoperability, performance, security, and increased antijam ability. However, IFF by itself does not solve the identification problem. ESM is a valuable adjunct to the surveillance radar for the early detection, classification, and identification of electromagnetic emissions in order for surveillance operators to concentrate all the available resources toward identifying potential threats. Future ESM systems are expected to be highly integrated, totally automatic, and incorporate expert and knowledge-based systems to handle the very high pulse data rates and complex modulation waveforms of the future. Communications is the key element to command and control. Satellite communications will enable the AEW platform to receive data rapidly from a variety of sensors. Because of advances in high-speed processing, data can now be processed aboard space-based sensor platforms and then communicated directly to the AEW platform. Self-protection systems will be an integral part of future AEW platforms. These countermeasures systems will be multifunctional so that they can be changed as the threat changes. IR sensor technology will continue to mature. Staring focal plane arrays with up to 100,000 detector elements will be developed and deployed aboard future space-based infrared sensor systems. The combined capability of radar, ESM, IFF, IR, and other national assets should provide future AEW platforms with the capability to detect AEW targets in adverse weather with a high degree of confidence.

Chapter Contents:

• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF)
• 9.2.1 IFF Introduction
• 9.2.2 Mark X and XII IFF
• 9.2.3 Mark XV IFF
• 9.2.4 Noncooperative IFF
• 9.2.5 NATO Identification System (NIS)
• 9.2.6 IFF Antenna Installation
• 9.3 Electronic Support Measures (ESM)
• 9.3.1 Introduction
• 9.3.2 Background and History
• 9.3.3 Surveillance Objective
• 9.3.4 Signal Environment
• 9.3.5 AN/ALR-73
• 9.3.6 Critical Issues
• 9.3.7 Future ESM Systems
• 9.4 Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I)
• 9.4.1 Definitions
• 9.4.2 C3I in Air Defense
• 9.4.3 Data Links
• 9.4.4 Voice Links
• 9.4.5 Military Satellite Communications
• 9.4.6 Distributed Surveillance
• 9.5 Self-Protection
• 9.5.1 Introduction
• 9.5.2 Threats
• 9.5.3 Self-Protection Approach
• 9.5.4 Self-Protection Implementation
• 9.5.5 Future Threats
• 9.6 Infrared (IR) Sensors
• 9.6.1 Introduction
• 9.6.2 Phenomenology
• 9.6.3 Scanning Optics and Staring Arrays
• 9.6.4 Platform Concerns
• 9.6.5 Current State of IR Technology
• 9.7 Summary

Inspec keywords: airborne radar; focal planes; electronic countermeasures; radar detection; search radar; infrared detectors; satellite communication; object detection

Other keywords: expert systems; IFF systems; ships; satellite communications; space-based infrared sensor systems; complex modulation waveforms; aircraft; IR sensor technology; AEW platform; pulse data rates; mission support systems; electronic countermeasures systems; surveillance radar; identification-friend-foe system; airborne early warning radar; aboard space-based sensor platforms; ESM systems; self-protection systems; AEW target detection; focal plane arrays; electronic support measures; adjunct sensors; high-speed processing; electromagnetic emissions; knowledge-based systems; radar early detection

Subjects: Satellite communication systems; Electronic warfare; Image sensors; Photodetectors; Radar equipment, systems and applications