A radio altimeter tracking filter configured to detect and predict a radio altimeter signal, the radio altimeter tracking filter comprising: a wireless radio interface comprising a down-converter and an RF receiver; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to: wirelessly receive an frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radio altimeter signal via the RF signal receiver; and convert the FMCW radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal via the down-converter, wherein the FMCW radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to: execute a passband filter wherein the passband filter has a passband having a first bandwidth, pass the baseband frequency signal through the passband filter wherein the passband filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; process the plurality of spectral chirps to determine and output characteristic parameters computed from the plurality of spectral chirps that characterize the radio altimeter signal for a given time period, wherein the characteristic parameters include at least: a first characteristic parameter comprising a period of the FMCW radio altimeter signal; and a second characteristic parameter comprising an absolute slope of the FCMW radio altimeter signal. a wireless radio interface comprising a down-converter and an RF receiver; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to: wirelessly receive an frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radio altimeter signal via the RF signal receiver; and convert the FMCW radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal via the down-converter, wirelessly receive an frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radio altimeter signal via the RF signal receiver; and convert the FMCW radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal via the down-converter, wherein the FMCW radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to: execute a passband filter wherein the passband filter has a passband having a first bandwidth, pass the baseband frequency signal through the passband filter wherein the passband filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; process the plurality of spectral chirps to determine and output characteristic parameters computed from the plurality of spectral chirps that characterize the radio altimeter signal for a given time period, wherein the characteristic parameters include at least: a first characteristic parameter comprising a period of the FMCW radio altimeter signal; and a second characteristic parameter comprising an absolute slope of the FCMW radio altimeter signal. execute a passband filter wherein the passband filter has a passband having a first bandwidth, pass the baseband frequency signal through the passband filter wherein the passband filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; process the plurality of spectral chirps to determine and output characteristic parameters computed from the plurality of spectral chirps that characterize the radio altimeter signal for a given time period, wherein the characteristic parameters include at least: a first characteristic parameter comprising a period of the FMCW radio altimeter signal; and a second characteristic parameter comprising an absolute slope of the FCMW radio altimeter signal. a first characteristic parameter comprising a period of the FMCW radio altimeter signal; and a second characteristic parameter comprising an absolute slope of the FCMW radio altimeter signal.