Tracking Filters for Precision Electronic Support Measures (ESM) Systems

Both an alpha,beta and an alpha,beta,gamma filter have been used to estimate the true bearing and elevation of high-speed maneuvering targets from measurements made by a shipboard electronic support measures ESM sensor. The motivation for this research is the need for correlating radar and ESM tracks. Four Mach 3 target trajectories with a data rate of 10 Hz and a measurement noise standard deviation of 0.1 deg were used to test the filters. Consistency tests were used to determine the best values for the steady-state gains of the filters. Both filters are computationally simple and provide estimates of greater accuracy than the ESM measurements. It was determined that an alpha,beta filter provides better estimates than an alpha,beta,gamma filter for most of the tested target trajectories. Two exceptions are the bearing for a Mach 3 crossing target at ranges less than 20 km and the elevation of a Mach 3 target at ranges less than 5 km. Both filters are recommended for radar-to-ESM track correlation research. The alpha,beta filter should be tested first, since it is simpler and provides better estimates for most of the cases tested. Electronic Warfare EW, Alpha,beta and alpha,beta,gamma Filters, Kalman Filters, Electronic Support Measures ESM Correlation, Passive Tracking.