Principles of ESM Analysis

One of the most common shortcomings of Electronic Surveillance (ES) systems is the failure to accurately determine the Direction of Arrival (DOA) of radar signals. DOA errors typically lead to multiple tracks being created for each radar and to confusion on the Operator’s screen.

Contributors to DOA error include equipment considerations, such as ESM antenna separation. These errors are quantifiable and solutions to mitigate such errors will be described in the webinar. However, DOA errors due to multipath interference from objects and surfaces in the environment of both the radar and of the platform on which the ES system is mounted are more difficult to recognize. This webinar shows how intra-pulse multipath effects manifest themselves in various situations and for different types of ES systems and offers solutions for the mitigation of such errors.

Speaker and Presenter Information

Dr. Sue Robertson has worked in the field of Electronic Warfare for more than 25 years and has extensive experience in data analysis for airborne and ship ESM systems. She has developed flight test programs and produced hundreds of reports on ESM performance issues. She has designed software for ESM testing and techniques for extracting data from flight trials for the population of ELINT databases. Sue has a Ph.D. in Experimental Particle Physics from University College London and an MBA from City University, London. She is currently working for EW Defence Ltd in the UK and is Chairman of the UK EW SME Working Group. From 2016 to 2022 Sue served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Old Crows (AOC) as International Regional Director with responsibility for Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa.