Radar system being jammed with false signals.

Decoding Radar Deception: How to Spot and Neutralize Frequency Diverse MIMO Jamming

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Samir D’Costa in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 5 min read.

"A deep dive into the vulnerabilities of frequency diverse MIMO radar systems and effective strategies to combat deceptive jamming techniques."


In the ever-evolving world of radar technology, staying one step ahead of potential threats is crucial. Modern radar systems, particularly those employing Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) and frequency diverse array (FDA) techniques, are designed to offer enhanced detection and tracking capabilities. However, these systems are not immune to sophisticated jamming tactics.

Deceptive jamming, a method used to confuse radar systems by creating false targets, poses a significant challenge. By manipulating the signals received by the radar, jammers can create phantom targets, hide real objects, or disrupt the radar's ability to accurately determine the location and velocity of objects. Understanding the vulnerabilities of radar systems to these tactics is the first step in developing effective countermeasures.

Recent research has focused on the weaknesses in frequency diverse MIMO radar systems, revealing critical errors in previous analyses of their susceptibility to jamming. This article will break down these findings, offering a clear explanation of how deceptive jamming works and what can be done to mitigate its effects. Whether you're an engineer, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the science behind radar technology, this guide will provide valuable insights into the ongoing battle between radar and jamming techniques.

What Makes Frequency Diverse MIMO Radars Vulnerable to Jamming?

Radar system being jammed with false signals.

Frequency diverse MIMO radars utilize multiple antennas and varying frequencies to enhance their performance. This approach allows them to gather more information about a target, improving accuracy and resolution. However, the complexity of these systems also creates potential vulnerabilities that sophisticated jammers can exploit. One key issue lies in how these radars process signals and differentiate between real and false targets.

A deceptive jammer, often referred to as a False Target Generator (FTG), operates by intercepting the radar's transmitted signal, modifying it, and then retransmitting it to the radar. This retransmitted signal appears as a false target, potentially leading the radar to misinterpret the scene. The effectiveness of this technique relies on the jammer's ability to manipulate the signal in a way that exploits the radar's processing algorithms.

  • Time Delay Manipulation:FTGs introduce precise time delays into the retransmitted signal, causing the false target to appear at a different range than the actual target.
  • Frequency Modulation: Jammers can also manipulate the frequency of the signal to create false targets that appear to have different velocities.
  • Exploiting Signal Processing Errors: By understanding the mathematical models and assumptions used by the radar's signal processing algorithms, jammers can introduce subtle errors that lead to misinterpretations.
A critical flaw identified in earlier research [1] involves an incorrect assumption about how frequency diverse MIMO radars handle time delays introduced by the jammer. The original analysis failed to account for the time delay modulated by the FTG, leading to the conclusion that these radars could distinguish between true and false targets based on their steering vectors. However, by correctly incorporating the time delay into the signal model, it becomes clear that FDA-MIMO radars cannot easily differentiate between the false targets released by the FTG and the true targets in the joint transmit-receive domain.

Future Directions: Strengthening Radar Defenses

The ongoing research into radar vulnerabilities highlights the need for continuous improvement in radar technology and signal processing techniques. Developing more robust algorithms that can accurately identify and mitigate deceptive jamming is essential for ensuring the reliability of radar systems in critical applications. Future research may focus on incorporating advanced signal processing methods, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, to better distinguish between real and false targets. Additionally, exploring new radar architectures and waveforms that are inherently more resistant to jamming could provide a significant advantage in electronic warfare scenarios. By staying ahead of evolving jamming techniques, we can ensure that radar systems remain a valuable tool for detection, tracking, and navigation.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.sigpro.2018.12.013, Alternate LINK

Title: Comments On “Deceptive Jamming Suppression With Frequency Diverse Mimo Radar”

Subject: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Journal: Signal Processing

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Jiantao Shi, Xin Liu, Yuhao Yang, Jun Sun, Ning Wang

Published: 2019-05-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

Why are frequency diverse MIMO radars vulnerable to jamming?

Frequency diverse MIMO radars enhance performance by using multiple antennas and varying frequencies. However, this complexity creates vulnerabilities that jammers exploit. A key issue is how these radars process signals, specifically how they differentiate between real targets and the false targets created by deceptive jamming techniques like those employed by a False Target Generator (FTG).

2

How does a False Target Generator (FTG) deceive radar systems?

A False Target Generator (FTG) deceives radar systems by intercepting, modifying, and retransmitting the radar's signal. This creates false targets by using techniques, such as Time Delay Manipulation, Frequency Modulation, and exploiting signal processing errors. If a time delay is introduced, the false target will appear at a different range. With frequency modulation the false targets appear to have different velocities. Understanding the radar's algorithms allows the FTG to introduce errors that lead to misinterpretations.

3

What critical flaw was identified in earlier research concerning frequency diverse MIMO radars and jamming?

Earlier research made an incorrect assumption about how frequency diverse MIMO radars handle time delays introduced by jammers. The original analysis didn't account for the time delay modulated by the FTG. Correctly incorporating the time delay into the signal model reveals that FDA-MIMO radars cannot easily differentiate between false targets released by the FTG and true targets. This is because the steering vectors were incorrectly believed to distinguish real from false signals, and they cannot.

4

What future directions are being explored to strengthen radar defenses against jamming?

Future research will explore advanced signal processing methods, like machine learning and artificial intelligence, to improve the ability to distinguish between real and false targets. New radar architectures and waveforms that are inherently more resistant to jamming are being researched. The goal is to develop more robust algorithms that can accurately identify and mitigate deceptive jamming, ensuring radar systems' reliability.

5

What is the overall impact of deceptive jamming on radar systems, and why is it a concern?

Deceptive jamming poses a significant challenge to radar systems. By creating false targets, jammers can confuse the radar, hide real objects, or disrupt its ability to accurately determine the location and velocity of objects. It highlights the critical need for continuous improvement in radar technology and signal processing techniques. Without effective countermeasures, radar systems become unreliable and vulnerable to manipulation.

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