Direction Finding

Direction Finding (DF) involves the use of receivers equipped with antennas to determine the angle at which a radio signal is received, often in navigation and military applications. Discover our cutting-edge advances in DF technology, providing a highly accurate solution for pinpointing both allied and adversarial communication systems.

Products within Direction Finding

HUGIN 304DF

Defining Direction Finding

RF Direction Finding (DF or RDF) is the practice of establishing the direction of arrival of one or more radio frequency signals. It can either be utilised with cooperative systems – to understand the direction in which to beamform towards a particular friendly communications system, for example – or to locate adversarial systems, by intercepting transmissions and calculating the direction of arrival.

Direction Finding systems are useful to:

  • National Defence Forces for pinpointing enemy transmitters, radars, and communication sources, to secure a tactical advantage
  • Law Enforcement Agencies for identifying unauthorised or interfering signals in the EM spectrum
  • Border Control and Coast Guard for locating signals from distressed crafts or small boats making unauthorised crossings

Different Direction-Finding Methods

There are many methods of Direction Finding. For instance, Amplitude Comparison uses multiple disparate antennas to compare the signal strength of a particular signal, determining the direction based on the antenna at which the strongest signal is received. Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) measures the time at which a signal reaches multiple antennas, using that to determine the direction. Phase Interferometry, on the other hand, compares the phase difference at each of multiple antennas.

DF with Novator Solutions

Our tactical turnkey solution, HUGIN 304DF, offers a comprehensive and precise solution for Electronic Warfare (EW) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), combining Direction Finding with communications support to accurately locate signal sources. Its mobility and turnkey design allow for quick deployment and effective operation even in dynamic environments.

This solution integrates Direction Finding alongside comms electronic support, employing the Adcock/Watson-Watt DF technique to estimate the angle of arrival of incoming signals. Since HUGIN 304DF may be used while travelling in a vehicle, multiple lines of bearing (LOBs) may be calculated over time, enabling the triangulation of emitter positions.

FAQ

  • What is Direction Finding?

  • Direction Finding is the practice of using incoming RF signals to determine the line of bearing towards one or more emitters. This can be done using multiple methods, including: Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA); Power Difference of Arrival (PDOA); Angle of Arrival (AOA); the pseudo-Doppler technique; the Watson-Watt technique.

Explore Other Applications

COMINT
ELINT
EW SIGINT

Connect With Our Experts

Contact us to learn more about our cutting-edge Electronic Warfare (EW) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) technologies. Our team would be happy to explore how our COMINT systems can boost your operational capabilities. At Novator Solutions, we are prepared to answer your questions and help you seamlessly integrate our systems into your existing infrastructure.

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