Millimeter-wave interferometric radiometry for the detection and geolocation of low-power signals

Millimeter wave detection and imaging is becoming increasingly important with the proliferation of hostile, mobile millimeter wave threats from both weapons systems and communication links. Improved force protection, surveillance, and targeting will rely increasingly on the interception, detection, geo-sorting, and the identification of sources, such as point-to point communication systems, missile seekers, precision guided munitions, and fire control radar systems. This paper describes the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) demonstration broadband passive millimeter wave (mmW) interferometric imaging system. This Ka-band system will provide a capability for meter-precision geolocation for imaged objects. The interferometer uses a distributed array of 12 antenna elements to synthesize a large aperture. Each antenna is packaged into an individual receiver, from which a baseband signal is recorded. The correlator is software-based, utilizing signal processing techniques for visibilities, and image formation via beamforming methods. This paper presents first results from an interferometer flight campaign.