AeroVehicles India
RF sensing and direction-finding antenna array
← All subsystems

Product 02 / Passive RF sensing & direction finding

RF Detection & Direction-Finding Subsystem

The primary passive RF sensing layer of the ADS architecture, combining detection, classification and bearing generation for GIS plotting, multi-site location fixing, C2 integration and downstream EO/IR or countermeasure cueing.

100 MHz – 8 GHz

Frequency coverage

Up to 15 km

Detection range

≤ 1° RMS

Fixed-frequency DF accuracy

Key features

  • Continuous wideband coverage supporting simultaneous UAS detection, classification and DF alongside COMINT tasks.
  • Detection and direction finding of continuous, burst and frequency-hopping emitters at hop rates up to 1000 hops/second.
  • Automatic GIS plotting of bearings with auto-tracking, plus master–slave networking for multi-site location fixing.
  • Onboard IQ recording of unknown signals and RF fingerprinting of control, telemetry and video links.
  • Expandable threat library with 100+ contemporary drone profiles and direct add-from-spectrum.
  • Library-agnostic detection across 433.92 MHz, 915 MHz, 2.45 GHz, 5.8 GHz and custom bands.

ADS integration sequence

  1. 01

    Detect RF emissions

  2. 02

    Classify & fingerprint

  3. 03

    Generate DF bearing

Technical specifications

Frequency range100 MHz – 8 GHz
Instantaneous bandwidth120 MHz
Scan rateHigh-speed agile scanning; 2 THz-class sweep for fast-hopping emitters
Sensitivity-102 to -107 dBm
Dynamic range90 dB
Frequency resolution1 Hz
VSWR< 2
Hop-rate detection1000 hops/s
Min. burst duration≤ 1 ms (single); 20 µs (multiple)
Detection rangeUp to 15 km
DF methodCorrelative interferometry / Doppler shift
DF accuracy≤ 1° RMS (fixed frequency); 10° RMS (frequency hopping)
Angular resolution≤ 0.4° or better
Drone profile library100+ profiles; expandable, no fixed storage ceiling
Sector blankingUser configurable

Imagery

System gallery

DF antenna array — mast mounted
DF antenna array — mast mounted
Sensor head and RF front end
Sensor head and RF front end

Field record

Case studies

Representative deployment scenarios for this subsystem. Site names are withheld; configurations reflect delivered and trialled arrangements.

Critical infrastructure

Refinery perimeter RF watch

A hydrocarbon processing site required persistent detection of unauthorised UAS activity across a 12 km buffer without emitting any radar signature that would disturb site safety clearances.

Two networked DF sensors delivered continuous passive coverage, cross-fixing controller positions and feeding the site control room with GIS-plotted bearings for security response dispatch.

12 km

Effective coverage

2 sites

Networked sensors

< 3 s

Detection to plot

Event security

Mass-gathering spectrum survey

A multi-day public event needed a pre-event spectrum baseline and live monitoring of hobby and modified drone control links inside a dense urban RF environment.

IQ recording and RF fingerprinting separated legitimate venue emitters from hopping control links, and the expanded threat library carried forward to subsequent deployments.

40+

Emitters catalogued

1000 hops/s

Hopping links tracked

0

Airspace incidents

Other subsystems

01

Integrated Command & Control (C2) System

03

EO/IR Camera & Auto-Tracking Subsystem

04

RF Wideband Jammer / COMINT Jammer

05

GNSS Jammer / Spoofer

06

Fixed & Rotational AESA Radar Surveillance System

07

Coastal Surveillance Radar System