Air target detection using airborne passive bistatic radar

Passive bistatic radar (PBR) research has traditionally focused on using a static ground based receiver for air target detection. Reported are the initial findings from a novel airborne PBR experiment using commercial FM transmissions between 88 and 108 MHz, as illuminators of opportunity. A two-channel PBR system was designed, constructed and installed on a light aircraft and the system flown with the intention of detecting low altitude commercial air targets in the vicinity of London s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Analysis of the data has shown that the system has successfully detected high velocity air targets on established air routes around the southeast of England. These encouraging results provide the proof of concept necessary to stimulate further development of the radar demonstrator to give improved target localisation and sensitivity.