CRFS outlines how adding a fused passive RF sensing layer can strengthen Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) systems by complementing active radar with additional electromagnetic awareness.
While radar remains fundamental for surveillance, tracking, and engagement, relying on it as the primary sensing layer can create vulnerabilities. The article highlights the challenges posed by low-flying one-way attack drones, as well as the fact that radar emissions can reveal the location of air defense assets.
Passive RF sensing enables air defenders to detect and geolocate RF-emitting targets without transmitting energy, supporting operations under Emission Control (EMCON) while helping preserve radar survivability. When airborne targets emit RF signals, passive sensors can contribute to earlier warning, improved target characterization, and more informed engagement decisions. The additional sensing layer can also support friend-or-foe discrimination by identifying known friendly emitters and combining that information with other sensor data.
Combining the Recognized Electromagnetic Picture (REMP) with the Recognized Air Picture (RAP) provides additional context for understanding the operational environment. While the RAP describes how a target is moving, the REMP provides insight into its electromagnetic behavior, supporting more informed classification and engagement decisions in congested and contested environments. Passive RF sensors can also detect and geolocate sources of electronic attack using Time Difference on Arrival (TDoA), helping maintain resilience when radar performance is degraded.
