Narda Safety Test Solutions mounts RF direction finding systems on drones
Narda Safety Test Solutions has adapted its Automatic Direction Finding Antenna (ADFA) for drone and UAV integration, extending its RF signal localization capabilities to airborne applications.
German company Narda Safety Test Solutions GmbH has expanded the application of its Automatic Direction Finding Antenna (ADFA) to airborne platforms, enabling the mounting of RF direction finding systems under drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The company aims to leverage ADFA's established success in land- and maritime-based applications for new aerial scenarios.
The ADFA, previously recognized for its use in fields such as frequency regulation and intelligence by NATO and in civilian applications, has now been updated for aerial deployment. A new capability allows for the installation of a direction-finding network on drones or other aircraft, enabling precise localization of RF sources from the air.
Key advantages for the system in airborne environments include its small footprint and low weight, which facilitate seamless integration into various aircraft sizes without significant payload compromise. Additionally, the ADFA can determine the elevation angle of radiation sources, enhancing localization accuracy in complex settings, especially when networked with other systems.
Narda highlights the ADFA's open architecture, based on Windows 10, offering interfaces (SCPI, Python API) and IQ data streaming (VITA49). This makes it a suitable platform for signal intelligence and the integration of geo-location systems. The broad frequency range (10 MHz - 8 GHz for AoA and 8 kHz - 8 GHz for TDoA) ensures the system's suitability for demanding airborne applications.