SEI / SET / SEF
RAS is a recognized leader in the development, implementation, test, evaluation, and analysis of Specific Emitter Identification (SEI) / Specific Emitter Tracking (SET) algorithms and Specific Emitter Feature (SEF) extraction. RAS has hands-on experience in the development and implementation of these algorithms for Air Force and Navy platforms. Our experience spans the range of SEI activities, from threat analysis and predictive sorting performance, to implementation in real-time hardware and testing against live emitters.
RAS has an extensive history in and is well aware of the majority of work in the SEI (and ELINT / EW) community. We have worked with several organizations and researchers within the community, and briefed at many SEI Technology working groups. We were a long-time advocate of automated SEI and SET (aka Combat ID or tactical specific / unique emitter ID) well before others in the community. From the first comparative SEI technology testing (MUSKETEER DIXIE) to our current work on AFRL, ARMY and NAVY programs, RAS has demonstrated a thorough understanding of SEI/SET theory, innovative SEF extraction and exploitation, and have pioneered concepts incorporated by users in the community. We had experience and maintained contacts with the National ELINT enterprise.
Based on our experience, RAS believes, as does the majority of the SEI community, no single technique performs well against all emitters. RAS has developed several improvements to the current National Standard, which were presented to SEI Program Office (SEIPO)/NSA, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and others. We have recently demonstrated, in real-time, single algorithms performing better than the Standard on challenging emitters AND that multiple simultaneous algorithms outperform in
dividual techniques.
RAS recognizes there are many challenges in tactical operations (low SNR, small pulse quantities, intermittent intercepts, synchronizing to real-time ES receivers, etc.). We have developed methods to address these challenges and have integrated them within our firmware and software. RAS principals have direct hands-on experience with many generations of real-time digital receivers (F-22, F-18 ALR-67(V), and CESAD proof of concept digital receiver) and integrating SEF within their processes.
Due to our extensive knowledge and background in the SEI community, RAS participated in National Assessment Tests (NATs) / Foreign Cooperative Testing conducted by SEIPO as an independent operator / referee of SEI hardware. Our work here helped to identify best-of-breed techniques and implementations for advancing the state-of-the-art in SEI.
Our SEI analysis capabilities include assessment tools to allow modeling and compensation for SEI receiver anomalies, comparison of SEI hardware with model data, sorting and clustering metrics, and tools that allow the analysis of digitized waveform data from threat emitters for assessment of new basis functions or clustering approaches. RAS has significantly advanced the state-of-the-art in cluster correlation using SEF and Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) to obtain quantitative analysis of performance versus SNR and pulse count.
We continue to develop new SEF techniques, such as SET, which is the coupling of SEF correlation with location and other tracking functions. Technologies such as this hold promise to significantly reduce miscorrelations, improving awareness of the electromagnetic environment.
Our theoretical and empirical analysis capabilities are supported by our field data collection and analysis expertise. Our engineers have direct experience in designing, planning, and performing both ground- and airborne-collections of radar systems and analyzing their modulation content. We plan and lead all aspects of complex collection campaigns for our DOD customers, including comparisons with ground truth data and data validation. RAS has performed radar signal collection and analysis for such exemplar radars as Patriot, Sentinel, SPY-1 radars used in the AEGIS Combat System, SHARPEYE, and FPS-117 as well as many threat radar systems.
It is clear, robust / automatic improved specific emitter signal processing techniques are needed to uniquely identify technologically-advanced radars of the same type for today's Electronic Warfare (EW) applications.