Theory and design of blink jamming

Abstract

Establishing an error in the angle estimates of a monopulse radar is critical to creating miss distance during the terminal stage of missile engagements. However, the tools for creating angle deception are limited, with blink jamming offering significant potential. This paper fills in the conceptual gaps in understanding of blink jamming, through a theoretical analysis, which is validated using modelling and simulation, including hardware-in-the-loop with a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Additionally, a novel version of blink jamming is proposed, using a synchronized amplitude modulation, and its performance compared to traditional, unmodulated blink jamming. The complete results are discussed, with design guidance provided for implementing blink jamming in operational scenarios.