Narda’s Automatic Direction Finding Antenna (ADFA) targets airborne platforms – mounting RF direction finding systems under drones and (s)UAVs

Narda’s Automatic Direction Finding Antenna (ADFA) has now ventured into the airborne platform sector, demonstrating its capabilities in mounting RF direction finding systems under drones and (s)UAVs. Benefiting from its established success in land-based and maritime applications, the ADFA offers unique features that make it the ideal choice for the challenges of airborne scenarios.

Versatile application in airborne platforms

Since its introduction, the compact Narda ADFA has gained wide recognition in land-based forces, including NATO, and maritime applications due to its fast, reliable and accurate RF direction finding. Its importance extends to civilian and non-civilian applications ranging from frequency regulation, police, intelligence and homeland security to electronic warfare and reconnaissance. With the new feature of azimuth count selection in the reverse direction, the Narda ADFA is now ready for airborne applications, i.e. for mounting under the fuselage of unmanned or manned aircraft.

Main advantages for the Narda ADFA in airborne environments

1. Smallest footprint and lightest weight: the ADFA has the smallest footprint and lightest weight in its class, allowing it to be seamlessly integrated into airborne platforms without compromising payload capacity. This feature ensures that the antenna system can be used effectively in unmanned aircraft with a payload of only 10 kg.
2. Elevation determination capability: One of the system’s outstanding capabilities is its unique ability to determine the elevation of radiation sources. When used in a direction finding network of two or more airborne sensors or in combination with terrestrial masts, ships or land vehicles, the ADFA excels in complex and dynamic situations.
3. Highly open platform: The ADFA operates on a highly open platform based on embedded WIN10, SCPI and Python APIs as well as VITA49 IQ streaming for Signals of Interest (SoIs) in both time and frequency domains. This openness makes it an ideal subsystem for integrators working on spectrum monitoring and geo-location systems.

Advanced technical features for demanding environments:

ADFA’s High Dynamic Range (HDR) concept, coupled with a wide frequency range of 10 MHz – 8 GHz for Angle of Arrival (AoA) and 8 kHz – 8 GHz for Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) geo-location, positions it as a small and lightweight, yet high performance system. These technical capabilities meet the most demanding requirements of modern airborne applications. As airborne platforms become increasingly important in various sectors, the Narda ADFA represents a transformative solution that offers unprecedented capabilities for RF direction finding. With its exceptional features, the Narda ADFA sets a new standard for airborne RF direction finding systems and redefines the possibilities in this dynamic and evolving field.