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DF & Geolocation

Counter threats by detecting, classifying, and locating signals of interest over a wide area

Overview

RF direction finding and geolocation techniques provide the critical insights needed for effective decision-making. Knowing a transmission exists is important, but knowing the location of that transmission can deliver vital intelligence for both military and civilian applications. 

Direction Finding (DF) provides a bearing to a transmission by using an angle from the sensor to the transmitter. Conversely, Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) geolocation pinpoints the precise geographic coordinates of a transmission in two or three dimensions.  

  • Geolocate the source of a signal

  • Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA - 2D & 3D)

  • Power on Arrival (PoA)

  • Angle of Arrival (AoA)

DF & geolocation applications

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Military spectrum monitoring & EMSO

CRFS technology helps military operators dominate the spectrum by identifying and locating threats and turning real-time signal capture and emitter data into actionable intelligence. 

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Defense against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

RF monitoring systems detect and geolocate military and modified UAVs in real-time using techniques such as triangulation and multilateration, to help respond to threats swiftly. 

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Locating sources of RF interference

To pinpoint the direction of an interfering RF signal, sensors measure the time delay of the received signal at each antenna and triangulate the signal’s source location.  

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Border security monitoring

By precisely determining the location of a threat and then monitoring enemy communications, military forces can respond rapidly to incidents in border areas. 

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Aviation & aviation safety

By tracking the positions of aircraft, controllers can ensure safe separation and correct use of airspace. 

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Search & rescue operations

DF technology helps locate distress signals from emergency beacons used by aircraft and ships. 

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Law enforcement & security

DF and geolocation can help security agencies locate the sources of suspicious or unauthorized communication, aiding in counterterrorism efforts and criminal investigations. 

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Spaceport asset protection

Geolocation techniques are used to track the positions of spacecraft and satellites, ensuring accurate communication and navigation during space missions. 

Talk to an advisor about DF & geolocation

DF & geolocation expertise

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Spectrum monitoring & geolocation systems

An overview of contemporary radio spectrum monitoring practice and the sensor and geolocation technologies required to meet emerging challenges.

WP-RFEYE-031 AoA Cover

Angle of arrival / direction finding techniques

How does AoA work? How can it be applied in practice? And how can it be combined with other geolocation techniques such as time difference of arrival (TDoA)?
DETECTION & 3D GEOLOCATION OF AERIAL TARGETS OVER WIDE AREAS
REAL-TIME DIRECTION FINDING  & FULL SPECTRUM AWARENESS
INCREASING LINE OF SIGHT & GEOLOCATING GROUND-BASED  TARGETS FROM A LONG DISTANCE
DEPLOYMENT STORIES

DETECTION & 3D GEOLOCATION OF AERIAL TARGETS OVER WIDE AREAS

How a NATO partner built an air defense platform to increase national security 

Read the story
DEPLOYMENT STORIES

REAL-TIME DIRECTION FINDING & FULL SPECTRUM AWARENESS

How a Southeast Asian government intelligence service secured multiple borders.

Read the story
DEPLOYMENT STORIES

INCREASING LINE OF SIGHT & GEOLOCATING GROUND-BASED TARGETS FROM A LONG DISTANCE

How TEKEVER & CRFS collaborated to fit UAS with ultra-sensitive RF receivers as a payload.

Read the story

Related reading

How Accurate is TDOA Geolocation?
DF & GEOLOCATION

How Accurate is TDOA Geolocation?

by Tamara Clelford
A common question is, “How accurate is TDoA geolocation?” A better question to ask is, “What factors influence TDoA accuracy, and how can I maximise it?” This article outlines ...
Simulating and geolocating enemy jamming for training and wargaming
DF & GEOLOCATION

Simulating and geolocating enemy jamming for training and wargaming

by Jaimie Brzezinski
CRFS enables military teams to realistically simulate, detect, and geolocate enemy jamming signals during training and wargaming exercises, improving readiness, tactics, and ...
How can RF multipath affect DF and geolocation?
DF & GEOLOCATION

How can RF multipath affect DF and geolocation?

by James Spriet from Raven Whispers
Accurate and reliable DF and geolocation are essential for identifying, tracking, and locating signals of interest. However, RF multipath propagation significantly impacts ...