ADA (smart antenna)
Smart antenna that navigates through heavy GNSS jamming.
The ADA (adaptive antenna) is an advanced smart antenna that uses a multichannel controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA). It is designed for various platforms, including UAVs, planes, and ships, and is manufactured by the MLM factory of the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI). The ADA enables vehicles, missiles, and other platforms to navigate even under heavy jamming intended to block GPS and other GNSS signals, by extracting faint legitimate signals from a superposition of incoming waves that includes noise and strong jammer signals.
- Manufacturer
- MLM factory of the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI)
- Type
- adaptive antenna (ADA), multichannel controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA)
- Platforms
- UAVs, planes, ships, vehicles, missiles
- Public unveiling
- February 2017
- First public display
- Aero India air show, Bangalore, 14–18 February 2017
- Joint development contract
- July 2017 with American Honeywell
Lore & Background
The theory underlying the ADA began as a theory of multichannel estimation, with origins in methods from the 1920s used to determine the direction of arrival of radio signals using two antennas based on phase difference or amplitude of their output voltages. Those early assessments were made using pointed-type indicator readings or Lissajous curves drawn by a beam on an oscilloscope screen.
The existence of the ADA was publicly unveiled in February 2017, alongside a report that the Israeli Defence Forces had already decided to install the ADAs on major platforms in service. It was also displayed at the Aero India air show held from 14 to 18 February 2017 in Bangalore. In July 2017, MLM signed a contract with American Honeywell to jointly develop a GPS anti-jam navigation system based on the ADA and Honeywell's devices.
Reader's Guide
The ADA represents a significant development in navigation resilience, allowing platforms to maintain positioning even when adversaries attempt to block all GNSS reception. By using advanced multichannel techniques, the antenna can extract very faint legitimate signals from a complex wave environment that includes both noise and strong jamming signals—whether from enemy or friendly sources. These extracted signals are then used in the same manner as a regular GPS receiver to triangulate position and determine GPS time. The ADA's deployment on major Israeli Defence Forces platforms, announced at its public unveiling, underscores its operational importance. The subsequent joint development agreement with Honeywell in July 2017 indicates an effort to integrate the ADA into broader anti-jam navigation systems, potentially expanding its application beyond Israeli platforms. The ADA's lineage traces back to 1920s direction-finding methods, showing a long evolution from simple two-antenna phase or amplitude comparisons to a sophisticated multichannel estimation system capable of operating under severe electronic warfare conditions.
Did You Know?
- It was publicly unveiled in February 2017, when the Israeli Defence Forces had already decided to install it on major platforms.
- The ADA was displayed at the Aero India air show in Bangalore from 14 to 18 February 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ADA (adaptive antenna)?
The ADA is a smart antenna system built around a multichannel controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) architecture. It was developed by the MLM factory under Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) to give platforms reliable navigation in contested electromagnetic environments.
What is the ADA's core capability?
Its defining strength is the ability to pull out weak, legitimate GNSS signals even when they are buried under powerful jamming noise. It does this by separating the desired signal from a superposition of incoming waves that includes strong interferers, allowing a platform to keep navigating when GPS would otherwise be lost.
Who builds the ADA and what partnerships exist?
The antenna is produced at IAI's MLM factory in Israel. In July 2017, IAI signed a joint development agreement with American company Honeywell to further advance the technology.
Where and when was the ADA first revealed to the public?
The system made its debut at the Aero India air show in Bangalore, India, during the 14–18 February 2017 window. That event in February 2017 marked its first public unveiling.
What kinds of platforms can carry the ADA?
The design is intended to be platform-agnostic, fitting onto UAVs, manned aircraft, naval vessels, ground vehicles, and even missiles. This broad compatibility is a key reason the antenna is considered a force multiplier across multiple operational domains.
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