LEO Navigation Augmentation Signal-Based Passive Radar: System Model and Performance Analysis

As the next generation of time–space infrastructure, low-earth-orbit navigation augmentation (LEO-NA) technology has become a hot research topic, since it can overcome the vulnerabilities and limitations of global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs). Meanwhile, a LEO-NA signal can serve as a better cooperative illuminator to build more powerful passive radar (PR). This paper proposes and investigates a new and promising PR system, LEO-NA signal-based PR (LNAS-PR), which utilizes LEO-NA signals as the illuminator and utilizes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to carry the receiver. Taking advantage of higher landing power and global coverage, LNAS-PR can be used to detect maritime targets with benefits of low cost and high efficiency. However, new technical challenges of information capture and processing need to be dealt with. Therefore, this paper presents the system model, signal model, and performance analyses within a maritime monitoring scenario, providing a foundation for future in-depth research.