The Effect of Random Steering Vector Errors in the Applebaum Adaptive Array

The effect of random errors in the steering vector of an Applebaum adaptive array is examined. Each component of the steering vector is assumed to have a random error component uncorrelated between elements. The array output signal-to-interferenceplus-noise ratio (SINR) is computed as a function of the error variance. It is shown that the array output SINR becomes more sensitive to steering vector errors as more elements are added to the array and as the received desired signal power becomes larger. The variance of the steering vector error that may be tolerated depends on the required desired signal dynamic range. The larger the dynamic range that must be accommodated, the smaller the error variance must be.