Enhancing & Supplementing JORN Using GPS-R (Sensors for JORN)
Project Lead Organisation:
University of New South Wales
Collaborating Organisation:
University of Sydney
DIN Funding:
$150,000
Project objective:
To address the limitations of the Jindalee Over-the-horizon Radar Network (JORN), the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney are working together to develop hardware and software that utilises reflected Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals to make additional ionospheric observations that can detect large surface vehicles from low-earth-orbit.
Problem:
JORN is an over-the-horizon RADAR, used for the defence of Australia, that can monitor sea and airspace across 37,000 square kilometres. It uses reflections of the ionosphere to achieve an operating range of 1,000-3,000 km. Australia has just announced its $1.2B upgrade which will take 10 years to complete.
Outcome:
The new GNSS-R sensor will significantly enhance the ability to detect ships at sea, both directly and by providing useful input to the ionoshpehric modelling used by JORN.