System and method for providing accurate position location information to military forces in a disadvantaged signal environment

A method of providing jam-resistant and spoof-resistant position information to a mission participant in a disadvantaged signal environment at a covert location, said method comprising:

• positioning each of a first aerial vehicle, a second aerial vehicle, and a master aerial vehicle at a preset altitude and at a stationary position in proximity to the covert location;
• positioning a mother aerial vehicle at a predetermined altitude and at a distance away from the disadvantaged signal environment of the covert location;
• synchronizing the first aerial vehicle, the second aerial vehicle, and the master aerial vehicle using frequency and timing information;
• measuring an initial position of the first aerial vehicle, the second aerial vehicle, and the master aerial vehicle, by the mother aerial vehicle, using an onboard high resolution radar;
• transmitting two locations from the mother aerial vehicle to the master aerial vehicle, via an X band link with a very narrow beam width and extremely low side lobe levels, including:
• transmitting said measured initial position, and transmitting respective spaced-apart positions above the covert location for each of the first aerial vehicle, the second aerial vehicle, and the master aerial vehicle;
• maneuvering the first aerial vehicle, the second aerial vehicle, and the master aerial vehicle to the respective spaced-apart positions;
• acquiring respective fine position adjustments for each of the first aerial vehicle, the second aerial vehicle, and the master aerial vehicle, by producing a terrain strip-map using a synthetic aperture radar on the master air vehicle, and mensurating the terrain strip-map against a map database;
• transmitting the respective fine position adjustments from the master aerial vehicle to the first aerial vehicle and the second aerial vehicle;
• maneuvering the first aerial vehicle, the second aerial vehicle, and the master aerial vehicle to its respective fine-adjusted position;
• coding, by each of the first aerial vehicle, the second aerial vehicle, and the master aerial vehicle, a unique reference signal including its latitude, longitude, and altitude transmitting, by each of the first aerial vehicle, the second aerial vehicle, and the master aerial vehicle, its unique coded reference signal;
• determining a geo-location of the mission participant by performing time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements of the unique coded reference signals, using a computing device.