Radar Technologies
Thursday 11th November 2010, 1300hrs–1430hrs
Chaired by Delbert 'Ace' Summey Towards Operational High Frequency Surface Wave Radars Dr Florent Jangal, ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab, France For nearly fifteen years there is a significant research activity around targets detection by High Frequency Surface Wave Radars (HFSWRs). Nevertheless, this subject is still open to debate. Our HFSWR system, located in the French Biscay Bay, is now moving on the fourth trial cycle. Generally speaking, all carried out trials aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of HFSWR detection capabilities.
In 2008, we performed a thorough study of propagation losses and well-known sea clutter. We point out the variability of those parameters. The incidence of appearance of ionospheric clutter has been considered and clutter mitigation issues have also been investigated. In 2009, we deployed a bi-static and bi-frequency version of our HFSWR system. Those facilities allow going through jammer and clutter issues. Obviously, we succeed in detecting low flying aircraft behind the line-of-sight and vessels up to 200 km. Those results have been compared with the state of the art. They seem to be quite good with regard to the transmitted power. In the last quarter of 2009, we have deployed a more focalized receiving antenna array with 32 elements (i.e. the radar cell is smaller). We are currently performing trials using this configuration. Partial results are quite promising since targets are tracked well behind 200 km. The fourth trial cycle will end with the set up of new power amplifiers. Thus, we expect to improve the coverage and to near the EEZ boundary. The summary of the granted results, notably concerning our last trial in the Biscay Bay, will be presented at MAST 2010 in Rome. Fleet and Harbour Protection through Combined X/Ka-Band Frequency Surveillance Radar Mr. Andrea Pizzarulli, GEM Elettronica, Italy The paper will describe and articulate the clear operational and technical advantages of utilizing an integrated and combined X-band/ Ka-band radar frequency for optimum results in maritime domain awareness, harbour and fleet protection. It will be shown that while a Ka-band channel will provide high-resolution, high-discrimination and optimum detection of weak maritime targets at short-to-medium ranges, the X-Band channel will simultaneously generate detection at medium-to-long range – even in presence of considerable sea and rain clutter. Moreover, the integrated system architecture, featuring two antennas and two transceivers (one for each band) installed top-mast , allows the operator to use either one of the channels or to superimpose the radar returns for a more accurate and comprehensive surveillance picture. Magnetron transceivers and advanced antenna technology led to the re-packaging of the radar to use in small and medium-size patrol vessel or mounted on ground vehicles. The paper will also illustrate the empirical results stemming from the 2007 NATO Harbour Protection Trials in Taranto when the combined X/Ka Band frequency surveillance radar demonstrated its real capacity in detecting selected threats posed by crafts of opportunity, remotely operated vehicles, autonomous vehicle and mini-submarine. Cognitive Radar Implemented into Octopus Multi Function Radar (Practical Results) Mr Alessandro Lauri, Virtualabs s.r.l., Italy Francesco Macro, Virtualabs, Italy. Cognitive Radars (CR) have focused the interest of radar engineers in the recent past years, due to the fact that they represent a new frontier in Radar development, capable of bringing new interesting radar performances. The main feature of a CR is the capability to adaptively adjust the transmission parameters
according to the information learnt by the receiver. In a CR waveform, PRF, frequency, beamshape (in case of AESA antenna), thresholds, etc. can be modified after the appraisal (cognition) of both environment and targets. For this reason, a Programmable Radar System (PRS) can be the optimum device to implement this new concept. In this paper we will present some cognitive algorithms, derived from the estimated scenario, applied to a fully programmable Multi Function Radar (MFR) named OCTOPUS, where waveform, TX, RX and antenna beam parameters are reprogrammable. The algorithms purposes are the optimization of the radar detection and tracking in each time-on-target. Some results of the above algorithms achieved by the OCTOPUS software emulator will be presented together with the live simulation.
MAST timetable
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Diamond Industry Patron
We got a better understanding of the international maritime domain awareness community.
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Peter Smith
Director International Maritime Domain Awareness Programs, Raytheon, USA
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