Passive Radar Architecture based on Broadband LEO Communication Satellite Constellations

This work addresses the exploitation of novel low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations deployed to provide global and broadband internet access as transmitters of opportunity for passive radar applications. We propose a system architecture based on a narrow-beam reference antenna that tracks the illuminating satellite based on the propagation of its orbital data. The requirements of the antenna tracking system are analysed in terms of the maximum pointing error and azimuth and elevation rates. The achievable performance of the system (i.e. range resolution on Earth surface and maximum target detection range) is estimated, and the range and Doppler migration effects due to the dynamic geometry are assessed. The results show the feasibility and potential capabilities of the proposed passive radar for target detection applications.