Bistatic Denial for HF Skywave Radar

The exploitation of radar transmissions from an adversary radar has many operational advantages, despite some practical constraints. As a counter to this possibility, owners of active radars may implement procedures to deny or at least impede such exploitation. In this paper we explore the issues that arise in the case of HF skywave radar, where the propagation geometries and scattering mechanisms that exist for microwave radars no longer apply. We illustrate the principal illumination modalities and, in some instances, quantify their impact on bistatic denial. Specific denial methods are outlined. The importance of environmental monitoring capabilities in the skywave radar design is highlighted.