Patent ID: 8237607

Claim:
An airborne tracking system comprising: an air-to-air tracking module configured to obtain air-to-air tracking data of an airborne tracked target; an air-to-ground tracking module configured to obtain air-to-ground tracking data of a ground-based tracked target; a tracking coordinator module operatively coupled to said air-to-air tracking module and to said air-to-ground tracking module, and configured for: obtaining said air-to-air tracking data; processing said air-to-air tracking data so as to calculate a likelihood that said airborne tracked target is landing and/or that an airdrop is being made from said airborne tracked target, and to define a predicted landing location of said airborne tracked target and/or the airdrop; and responsive to a positive likelihood, enabling activation of said air-to-ground module and providing said air-to-ground module with data on the predicted landing location, said location to be used as a starting location for air-to-ground tracking after activating, thereby enabling automated coordination of tracking by said air-to-air and said air-to-ground tracking modules.