UK airborne AESA radar research

This paper reviews current UK airborne active electronically scanned array (AESA) designs, discusses current trends towards higher digitisation and multi-function aperture concepts, and details the key future challenges that this technology faces. Specifically the paper discusses applications to fast-jets. Key requirements are for higher levels of digitisation to provide the performance required in ECCM, STAP, GMTI and ESM modes. Building radar systems with the key basic building blocks to as a minimum enable future realisation of these advanced modes will help to ¿future proof¿ the systems. This design philosophy is integral to the concept of through life capability management (TLCM) - i.e. a system designed to support the ability to sustain capability through incremental, spiral upgrade of signal processing, line replaceable items (LRIs), firmware and advanced modes.