Resources
Research
Jacobs Sula has established a national reputation for innovation in a range of research fields including RF sensors, UAVs and guided weapons. By encouraging the free exchange of ideas across a number of inter-related disclipines, Jacobs Sula ensures that its research remains at the leading edge and is focused on helping evolving customer needs.
RF Sensor Research
SAR Imagery from a Manoeuvring Aircraft
Non-linear Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
Although SAR is a valuable tool in giving all-weather, high-resolution imagery capabilities, it does have some operational drawbacks:
- The platform needs to fly an approximately straight and level trajectory;
- Any moving targets will be misplaced within the image
Jacobs Sula has developed a non-linear SAR technique that overcomes both these problems.
Following detailed mathematical analysis, we have conducted a series of flight trials funded by the EMRS DTC.
These trials demonstrated the ability of the new technique to produce imagery with sub-metre resolution from a manoeuvering
aircraft and the ability to determine both the correct postion and velocity of moving targets. Further work is now
underway to apply the technique to forwards-looking combat aircraft radars.
Multi-Functional Radar (MFR) Research
The high duty cycle of many modern MFRs increases the possiblity of them interfering with other systems. Jacobs Sula has undertaken a series of studies into the potential for mutual interference between naval MFRs within a force, and also the likely impact of these MFRs on conventional radars and navigational aids. This research investigated potential effects at timescales ranging from pulse lengths measured in nanoseconds through to multiple scans covering several tens of seconds.
MFR's can modify a vast range of parameters on a pulse-to-pulse or scan-to-scan basis, making traditional optimisation
techniques impractical. Jacobs Sula used systems engineering principles to develop simple algolrithms giving near-optimal radar
performance with minimal processing overhead.
Jacobs Sula has analysed the benefits of co-ordinating naval MFR resources within a task group to enhance overall effectiveness
or to conduct non-standard searches in specified sectors to detect multiple targets. The use of distributed multi-platform
radar architectures, for example to support kill assessment, was also examined.
In addition to our extensive research in the naval MFR domain, we have investigated the benefits and issues of using active
electronically-scanned arrays by Combat Aircraft Radars in the Ground Moving Target Indication role.
UAV Research
UAV Vunerability
Using the BAE Systems gas gun, Jacobs Sula has conducted a series of trials to assess the likely event of fragment damage on typical
UAV engines and fuel systems, and the resulting impact on survivability.
The vulnerability of UAVs to fragments of different sizes and velocities was quanitfied and related to potential engagement
geometries. We developed a number of rules and algolrithms for inclusion in detailed vulnerability and OA models.
Affordable Defeat of UAV Threats
Jacobs Sula developed a novel concept for a cost-effective counter to the increasing threat posed by prolific, low-cost UAVs. Our solution exploited threat characteristics and vulnerabilities to defeat the target well beyond the effective range of its sensors.
Novel guidance procedures were developed to attack the target from the rear, allowing the use of very low cost components to achieve robust, hit-to-kill performance.
Guided Weapons Research
Multi-Spectral Seeker Study
Combining IR and RF seekers in a complex weapon often leads to compromises, for example with an IR sensor attached to the side of an asymetrical airframe.
Jacobs Sula proposed overcoming this issue by placing RF elements along fin leading edges and rotating the missile to synthesise a radar aperture while leaving the missile nose free for IR sensors. This technique was successfully demonstrated at Queen's University Belfast and the Hutton-Moore Facility at Wells.
Novel concepts
Jacobs Sula has conducted a number of studies into novel all-weather guidance and control systems for a variety of weapons systems including anti-ship, air-to-ground, ground-to-air and air-to-air weapons.
