SBIR-STTR Award

Modeling of the Attenuation Effects of the Ionosphere and Troposphere for Radio Frequency Application
Award last edited on: 7/18/2018

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : MDA
Total Award Amount
$1,149,747
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
MDA16-008
Principal Investigator
Geoff Pendleton

Company Information

deciBel Research Inc

325 Bob Heath Drive
Huntsville, AL 35806
   (256) 716-0787
   info@dbresearch.net
   www.dbresearch.net
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 05
County: Madison

Phase I

Contract Number: HQ0147-17-C-7214
Start Date: 12/19/2016    Completed: 6/22/2017
Phase I year
2017
Phase I Amount
$149,962
Current environment models employed in MDA simulations are not configured to thoroughly evaluate the effects of the environment on radar performance. Also the current models are not coordinated to present a globally consistent environment picture and can be based on functions that have not been updated to take advantage of the environment models and databases that have become freely available in the information age. We propose environment model updates to mitigate these performance limitations. Radar atmospheric effects models whose behavior is derived from globally consistent environment models can produce radar sensor effects that represent a higher fidelity instantiation of the environment affecting the entire missile defense system. We propose developing a system of radar environment effects modules that derive their behavior from global environment models such as the Standardized Atmosphere Generator (SAG), the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF). For ionospheric radar effects we will address scintillation, range delay, auroral clutter, and Faraday rotation/absorption. Current scintillation models rely on conventional solar and geomagnetic observables such as sunspot number and planetary K index, Kp. We plan to use results from our analysis of an extensive set of UEWR Thule data to improve the modeled correlation of Approved for Public Release | 16-MDA-8917 (15 November 16)

Phase II

Contract Number: HQ0147-18-C-7323
Start Date: 5/25/2018    Completed: 5/24/2020
Phase II year
2018
Phase II Amount
$999,785
Current environment models employed in MDA simulations are, in general, not coordinated to present a globally consistent environment picture and can be based on functions that have not been updated to take advantage of the environment models and databases that have become freely available in the information age. In contrast, radar atmospheric effects models whose behavior is derived from globally consistent environment models and modern data sets can evaluate the probability of occurrence of adverse radar sensor effects enabling formal risk assessment and actionable results from environment modeling of the missile defense system. We propose developing a system of radar environment effects modules that anchor their behavior to global environment models such as the Standardized Atmosphere Generator (SAG), the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF). In addition, probability of occurrence distributions will be developed from modern databases of environment observations such as GPS scintillation and TEC data. For ionospheric radar effects we will address scintillation, range delay, auroral clutter, and Faraday rotation/absorption. Current scintillation models in propmod rely on conventional solar and geomagnetic observables such as sunspot number and planetary K index, Kp. We plan to use results from our analysis of an extensive set.Approved for Public Release | 18-MDA-9522 (23 Feb 18)