Electromagnetic Systems Applied Research

The overarching objective of this activity is to develop technologies that enable the development of affordable, effective and robust Electronic Warfare (EW) systems across the entire Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) that will increase the operational effectiveness and survivability of U.S. Naval units. Technology development is focused on Distributed Electronic Warfare in support of Distributed Maritime Operations. Emphasis is placed on passive sensors and active and passive Countermeasure (CM) systems that exploit and counter a broad range of electromagnetic threats. The focus is on maintaining near perfect, real-time knowledge of the enemy; countering the threat of missiles against deployed Naval forces; precision identification and location of threat emitters; and development of technologies that have broad application across multiple disciplines within the EW mission area. This activity also includes developments to protect these technologies from external interference, and modeling and simulation required to support the development of these technologies. The current objectives are: - Electronic Warfare (EW) Radio Frequency (RF) Technology: Develop and demonstrate technologies in the RF spectrum (covering frequencies from kilohertz to terahertz) that include developments in detection, signal processing and passive/active techniques for wideband Electronic Attack (EA), Electronic Protection (EP) and the Electronic Support (ES) mission areas. - Electronic Warfare (EW) Electro-Optic/Infrared (EO/IR) Technology: Develop and demonstrate counter EO/IR technologies extending from the ultraviolet to the far infrared spectral bands. This includes advances in multispectral sensors, multiband sources, beam forming/steering, and signal processing and transmission. - EW Integrated and Networked Technology: Develop and demonstrate technologies that will enable an increased situational awareness and response across the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) with broad spatial coverage using all available EW assets to provide coordinated, adaptive and networked EW sensing, protection and attack. - Advanced EW Enabling Technologies: Develop classified advanced electronic warfare technology in support of current and predicted capability requirements emphasizing distributive effects.

The overarching objective is to develop technologies that enable affordable, wide area, persistent surveillance optical architectures. Included are modeling and simulation required to support the development of these technologies. Efforts will also include the development of optical RF components, infrared technologies including lasers and focal plane arrays using narrow bandgap semiconductors. The current specific objectives are: - Optically Based Terahertz (THz) and Millimeter Wave (MMW) Distributed Aperture Systems: Develop Optically Based Terahertz (THz) and Millimeter Wave distributed aperture systems for imaging through clouds, fog, haze and dust on air platforms. - Wide Area Optical Architectures: Develop wide area optical architectures for persistent surveillance for severely size constrained airborne applications. - Hyperspectral sensors and processing: Develop visible, shortwave Infrared (IR), mid-wave IR, and long-wave IR hyperspectral sensors, along with processing algorithms to detect anomalies and targets. - Coherent Laser Radar (LADAR): Develop and improve components for LADAR applications including fiber lasers, coherent focal planes, and advanced processing. - Autonomous and Networked sensing: Develop algorithms and processing that supports autonomous sensing for Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAV) platforms and that supports networked sensing over multiple sensors and/or sensor platforms.

The overarching objective of this activity is to develop technologies that enable the development of affordable, effective and robust Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities using non-Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices, and atomic clocks. This project will increase the operational effectiveness of U.S. Naval units. Emphasis is placed on GPS Anti-Jam (AJ) Technology; Precision Time and Time Transfer Technology; and Non- GPS Navigation Technology (Inertial aviation system, bathymetry, gravity and magnetic navigation). The focus is on the mitigation of GPS electronic threats, the development of atomic clocks that possess unique long-term stability and precision, and the development of compact, low-cost Inertial Navigation Systems (INS).

The overarching objective of this activity is to develop higher performance components and subsystems for all classes of military Radio-Frequency (RF) systems that are based on solid state physics phenomena and are enabled by improved understanding of these phenomena, new circuit design concepts and devices, and improvements in the properties of electronic materials. An important subclass are the Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra-High Frequency (UHF), Microwave (MW), and Millimeter Wave (MMW) power amplifiers for Navy all-weather radar, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic attack, communications, and smart weapon systems. Another subclass are the analog and high speed, mixed signal components that connect the electromagnetic signal environment into and out of digitally realized, specific function systems. These improved components are based on both Silicon (Si) and compound semiconductors (especially the wide bandgap materials and narrow bandgap materials), low and high temperature superconductors, novel nanometer scale structures and materials. Components addressed by this activity emphasize the MMW and Submillimeter Wave (SMMW) regions with an increasing emphasis on devices capable of operating in the range from 50 Gigahertz (GHz) to 10 Terahertz (THz). The functionality of the technology developed cannot be obtained through Commercial-Off- The-Shelf (COTS) as a result of the simultaneous requirements placed on power, frequency, linearity, operational and instantaneous bandwidth, weight, and size. Effort will involve understanding the properties of engineered semiconductors as they apply to quantum information science and technology.

The overarching objective of this activity is to develop advanced sensor and sensor processing systems for continuous, high volume, theater-wide air and surface surveillance, battle group surveillance, real time reconnaissance and ship defense. Major technology goals include long-range target detection and discrimination, Target Identification (ID) and fire control quality target tracking in adverse weather, background clutter and electronic countermeasure environments, affordable apertures, distributed sensing systems, and includes modeling and simulation required to support the development of these technologies. The current specific objectives are: 1) Radar Architectures, Sensors, and Software which address Ballistic Missile and Littoral Requirement Shortfalls: Develop radar architectures, sensors, and software, which address Ballistic Missile and Littoral requirement shortfalls including: sensitivity; clutter rejection; and flexible energy management. 2) Algorithms, Sensor Hardware, and Signal Processing Techniques for Automated Radar Based Contact Mensuration and Feature Extraction: Develop algorithms, sensor hardware, and signal processing techniques for automated radar based contact mensuration and feature extraction in support of asymmetric threat classification and persistent surveillance to address naval radar performance shortfalls caused by man-made jamming and Electronic Counter Measures (ECM), unfavorable maritime conditions, and atmospheric and ionosphere propagation effects. 3) Software and Hardware for a Multi-Platform, Multi-Sensor Surveillance System: Develop software and hardware for a multi-platform, multi-sensor surveillance system for extended situational awareness of the battlespace.

The overarching objective of this activity is to develop Millimeter Wave (MMW) and sub-MMW power amplifiers for use in Naval all-weather radar, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic attack, and communications systems. The technology developed cannot, for the most part, be obtained through Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) as a result of the simultaneous requirements placed on power, frequency, bandwidth, weight, and size. Responding to strong interests from the various user communities, efforts are focused on the development of technologies for high-data-rate communications, electronic warfare and high-power radar applications at Millimeter Wave (MMW) and upper-MMW regime. The emphasis is placed on achieving high power at high frequency in a compact form factor. Technologies include utilization of spatially distributed electron beams in amplifiers, such as sheet electron beams and multiple-beams, and creation of simulation based design methodologies based on physics-based and geometry driven design codes. The current specific objectives are: - High Power Millimeter and Upper Millimeter Wave Amplifiers: Develop science and technology for high power millimeter and upper millimeter wave amplifiers including high current density diamond cathodes, sheet and multiple electron beam formation and mode suppression techniques in overmoded structures. - Lithographic Fabrication Techniques: Develop lithographic fabrication techniques for upper-millimeter wave amplifiers. - Accurate and Computationally Effective Device-Specific Multi-Dimensional Models for Electron Beams: Develop accurate and computationally effective device-specific multi-dimensional models for electron beam generation, large-signal and stability analysis to simulate device performance and improve the device characteristics.

The objective of this activity is to conduct applied research, development, and experimentation of key technology enablers that provide effective and resilient Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance & Targeting (ISRT) capabilities as affordable and proliferated space-borne sensors for littoral & maritime environments. This project will investigate, create, and evaluate technologies & techniques that increase the operational tactical effectiveness and survivability of U.S. & Allied Naval Forces against peer & near-peer competitors. Specifically, emphasis is placed on: 1) remote sensing, tracking & identification of naval-centric threats; 2) autonomy & multi-platform collaboration between Naval Forces & ISRT satellite constellations for executing naval missions; 3) direct & dynamic linkages between ISRT satellites and Naval Forces supporting tactical engagements; 4) machine learning, intelligent edge analytics, and near-optimal implementation of machine-generated Tactics, Techniques & Procedures (TTPs) between ISRT satellites and Naval Forces at relevant tactical timescales; and 5) secure and trusted on-orbit processing techniques that reduces the computational & communications burden on deployed Naval Forces. In addition to developing ISRT capabilities, this project will investigate, create, and evaluate technologies & techniques that generate or mitigate space & atmospheric effects that degrade the effectiveness of using ISRT constellations for tactical applications. Specifically, emphasis is placed on 6) identifying, understanding, implementing, and mitigating electromagnetic effects & techniques that improve, or reduce the performance of ISRT constellations and the impact on Naval Forces.

The objective of this activity is to improve signal processing for detection and imaging of targets in man-made and natural clutter.