A Computer Model to Evaluate Airborne Receiver Performance in Interference Environments

A computer model is described to evaluate airborne radio performance in a mixed environment of friendly and hostile emitters. A new performance criterion, the communications operability volume, is introduced. This criterion permits operational, scenario-based comparisons of various radio designs over a range of interference environments. Communications operability volumes can be calculated for different waveforms, receiver antenna patterns (including adaptive arrays), and detection thresholds. An empirical propagation algorithm is used to calculate path losses and/or maximum communications range. The computer model provides several types of graphic outputs that are used to compare antijam or electromagnetic compatibility performance for different radio designs at various locations relative to the sources of interference in a scenario.