Recent advances in exciter and waveform generator technology at Westinghouse

Requirements for improved radar system performance, in terms of increased dynamic range, target detection sensitivity, and operational flexibility, necessitate improved spectral purity in the microwave transmitter and receiver local oscillator signals. The requisite improvement in signal frequency stability must be achieved in both the generation of the exciter continous wave (CW) reference signals and signal modulation waveforms, and it must be maintained under conditions of environmental stress such as vibration. Recent advances in exciter master oscillator, miniature atomic clock, and waveform generator technologies that support the required improvements in spectral performance of exciter subsystems are described.