Space Based Signal Intelligence Systems :

Global Trends & Technologies

Dr. R. Sreehari Rao

Director
Defence Electronics Research Laboratory
Hyderabad
Space Based Signal Intelligence Systems :
Global Trends & Technologies

• Need for Satellite based SIGINT

• Types of space surveillance & reconnaissance systems

• Global Trends in SIGINT systems

• Salient features of satellite SIGINT payloads

• Critical SIGINT payload technologies

• Conclusion
 NEED FOR SATELLITE BASED SIGINT

™ LIMITATIONS OF CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS

• RADIO HORIZON

• PRONE TO MISSILE HITS

• STRAINING OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

™ SATELLITE SIGINT PLAYED CRUCIAL ROLE IN RECENT

WARS
 SPACE SURVEILLANCE AND
RECONNAISSANCE
™ PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE SYSTEMS
™ EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS
™ SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS
ƒ ELINT
• RADINT
• TELINT
ƒ COMINT
™ OCCEAN SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS
™ IMINT
™ MASINT
 MISSIONS OF SPACE BASED SIGINT
COMINT
™ INTERCEPTION AND DECRYPTION OF MILITARY AND
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

™ MONITORING OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES

ELINT

™ INTERCEPTION OF RADAR SIGNALS

TELINT
™ RECEPTION OF TELEMETRY SIGNALS DURING
BALLISTIC MISSILE TESTS
 ELINT
ELINT INVOLVES ACTIONS TAKEN TO
• Search
• Intercept
• Locate
• Record
• Analysis of radiated EM energy

ELINT Rxs measure

• Angle of Arrival (AOA)
• Pulse Width
• Pulse Repetion Frequency
• Frequency
• Time of Arrival
• Scan Rate
• Location fixing of emitter
 COMINT
• Search, DF and intercept

• Location fixing of emitters

• Signal analysis and classification

• Monitoring

• Recording

• Evaluation and comparison with stored data

• Generation of tactical reports

 Radar scenario
• Wide Spectral Coverage ( 0.5 – 40 GHz )

• Complex Waveforms

• Wide PRF Range with Jitter and Stagger – 50 Hz to 500 KHz

• Wide Pulse Width Ranges – 50 ns to 500 µs

• Variety of Antenna Scans

• Short Dwell Times

 Communication Signal Scenario
• Wide Spectral Coverage ( 1.5 MHz – 18 GHz )

• Complex Waveforms (Burst, FH, DS)

• Non-Standard Data Formats

• High Signal Density

• Low SNR Conditions

• Both NB and WB Signals (FDM & TDM)

• Encrypted Signals

• Short Dwell Times

Handling emerging RF threats ?

en t ed
plem
com
To be
Military Satellites Launched in 2006

Ref: SPACESECURITY.ORG 2006

Type of satellites for SIGINT payloads

Group name Weight

Large Satellite >1000Kg
Medium Sized 500 - 1000Kg
Satellite
Mini Satellite 100-500Kg
Micro Satellite 10-100Kg
Nano Satellite 1-10Kg
Military SIGINT satellites :
Global scenario
 ELINT SATELLITES

GRAB (US) CERISE ( FRANCE)

US-P (Soviet )
SIGINT SATELLITE (US)
GEO
Weight : 2700 kg
Antenna: 255 ft dia.
Mission:
• Monitoring of microwave traffic
• Missile telemetry and data links
• Scud launch detection
Technologies
Huge unfurlable reflector, large array of feeds to intercept
signals from different locations, to pick up signals from
radios of wrist watch size
EORSAT – (Elint Ocean Reconnaissance
Satellite – `Cosmos series` - Russia)
• Passive collection of transmissions
from both radio and radar units
• EORSAT constellation consists of
multiple satellites in two orbital
planes
• Capable of estimating naval positions
Cosmos
to within two kilometers
Shenzhou – (China)
• UHF (300 – 1000 MHz) by three
earth-pointing antennae
deployed on long Telescoping
booms
• Seven horn antennae arranged
Shenzhou ELINT
in an arc to detect and localize
radar transmissions
 MEO

SIGINT SATELLITES
• GEO – SIGINT is required for the acquisition
of continuous Signal Intelligence about the
RF threats at specific regions of interest.

• LEO – SIGINT with a group of satellites with

inter communication could be a better option
for periodic surveillance in the fixed regions of
interest.
 Typical ELINT system Architecture

Main processor
Preprocessor
Antennas Receiver H/W
H/W + S/W MMI
+ Intelligence

Functionality –
Extract pulse parameters –
Pulse de-interleaving
Radio frequency
PRI analysis
Time of arrival
Frequency analysis
Pulse width
Scan pattern analysis
Angle of arrival
Emitter identification
Amplitude
Typical ELINT Receiver sensitivity requirements
Satellite L-band X-band Ku-band
orbit Air search radar Fire control Fire control
radar radar
ERP = 125 dBm ERP = 110 dBm ERP = 100 dBm
Rxg. Antenna Rxg. Antenna Rxg. Antenna
gain (- 4 dB) gain (0 dB) gain (3 dB)

LEO
(600 KM) - 70 dBm - 100 dBm - 110 dBm
MEO
(10000 KM) - 100 dBm - 120 dBm - 135 dBm
GEO
(36000 KM) - 110 dBm - 135 dBm - 145 dBm
 DIRECTION FINDING TECHNIQUES FOR
SATELLITE BASED ELINT

• Amplitude comparison DF Technique

• Phase comparison Interferometric DF Technique

• Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) DF Technique

Amplitude comparison DF Technique

360
Beam Width =
No.of Antenna

DIFF
DIFF
CRY LOG AMP
AMP
PROCESSOR DET VID
+ AOA
AOA
-
45o
CRY LOG
DET VID
PHASE COMPARISON DF TECHNIQUE

θ
d

2πd sin θ
ψ ψ=
λ
Time Difference of Arrival DF Technique

d cos θ
t = c
 Satellite SIGINT considerations:
• SIGINT systems on conventional platforms can be
reconfigured to space payloads with space qualified
components.
• A group of Micro-satellites in LEO are required to cover a
specified region. Microsatellites have the advantages
of light weight, less power consumption, low cost, mission
specific pay load configuration, distributed processing,
Launch on Demand etc.
• Location fixing of the target is achieved by employing
triangulation.
• In GEO orbits huge inflatable antennas with MDF techniques
can be employed for the emitter location
 Technology thrust areas
* Reconfigurable, inflatable and shared apertures

* High sensitivity receivers

* Laser communication systems

* Jam resistant secured data links
* Advanced signal processing techniques
* MEMS based components
* Satellite launchers
 Critical Technologies

• Multi chip modules

• MEOMS
• On-board computing & data handling
• Neural processing chips
• Smart structures
• Packaging & Thermal issues
• Space qualification
Channelised receiver
• Excellent sensitivity and selectivity
• 100% probability of interception
• Capability to handle multiple simultaneous
signals
• LTCC,SAW technologies and multilayer
structures used ro reduce weight

Digital receiver
• Simultaneous signal handling
capability
• High sensitivity
• Simplified RF
• Enhanced parameter
measurement accuracy
 INFLATABLES

Array Fed Reflector Inflatable Microstrip Antenna array

Concept Using
Inflatable Technologies
WB Beam Switching Antenna Substrate
Substrate
using RF MEMS switches Patch
Patch antenna
antenna

• MEMS in antenna configuration

• Electronic scanning of the beam Main

Main
Beam
Beam

• Light weight & compact size

Shared Aperture Array

• Multi fns from the same aperture

• Electronic switching

• Engineering & packaging is very critical

 Frequency Up & Down Converters

• Frequency Translation for Digital

Processing Applications

• SAW filtering technology

• Extensive use in IFM & DF

systems
 On board Processors

• ASIC/FPGA based Digital Processors

• Pulse De-interleaving with neural

network based algorithms

• DF ambiguity resolving algorithms

HTS microwave technology
• Inherent low thermal noise in
cryogenically cooled Components

• Very high quality factors(>109 ) for

resonant structures

• Very high sensitivity

LTCC Technology
• Rugged, cost competitive Thick-film substrate

• Passive components can be buried between

the LTCC tape layers, minimizing lead
lengths, improving integration and
robustness.
 Multifunctional Structures

• Each layer of Multifunctional network performs a specific

electronic function like power, ground control, data tx
• Electronic components mounted directly on spacecraft
structure without use of PCBs result in weight saving
• Cabling & interconnects are replaced by Multilayer Copper/
Polyimide film
 Micro-sat cluster
• Formation of Satellites that cooperate to perform the
function of larger, single satellite
• Smaller satellites communicate with each other, shares the
processing, communications & payload or mission functions
•Cluster can be configured for Radar,communications,
SIGINT, Geo-location etc.
 Distributed Processing

• Optimal Data transfer & parallel processing strategies are

used to maximise efficiency
• On-board control algorithms are being developed
to reduce ground control requirements
• Data processing from a group of Micro-satellites requires
knowledge of relative positions
Inter satellite Laser Communication
 Conclusion

• Satellite based SIGINT systems play a vital role in

intelligence gathering for assessing EOB

• These systems complement similar systems employed

on the conventional platforms

• The technologies like MEMS, inflatables and MMICs for

satellite SIGINT payloads play a critical role
THANK YOU