Low-Cost, Phased Array Antennas for Collaborative Jamming in sUAS Swarms

Objective: Develop a low-cost, phased array antenna system and associated signal processing techniques for collaborative jamming applications using small to medium-sized sUAS swarms (3-7 units). Description: This topic addresses the need for affordable and scalable jamming capabilities leveraging sUAS swarms. Instead of focusing on individual, high-power jammers, this STTR seeks to develop a collaborative jamming approach using multiple sUAS equipped with low-cost phased array antennas. The key innovation is the development of a low-cost phased array antenna system that can be precisely controlled to focus jamming energy on specific targets. By coordinating the signals from multiple sUAS in a swarm, the effective jamming power can be significantly increased. The focus on low to medium-sized swarms (3-7 units) allows for manageable coordination and control strategies. This approach offers several advantages over traditional jamming techniques, including: Increased jamming effectiveness through beamforming. Improved resilience through redundancy. Reduced risk of detection and counter-attack. Lower cost compared to high-power jamming systems. Keywords: Phased Array Antenna; Collaborative Jamming; sUAS Swarm; Beamforming; Electronic Warfare; Low-Cost; Agile EW CMMC Level: Level 2 (Self)