Design criteria for a Multifunction Phased Array Radar integrating weather and Air Traffic Control surveillance

Cost reduction for transmit/receive modules makes phased array radar of potential interest to civilian users. An integrated target/weather surveillance at medium range, i.e. for terminal manoeuvre area in the frame of ATC and regional weather monitoring, is made possible by MPAR (multifunction phased array radar) techniques, allowing a single technology to satisfy different requirements. The main design criteria and tools are outlined, as well as the preliminary guidelines for a detailed system design, needed for a future cost/benefit analysis. The key techniques needed to achieve the required performance are (a) interleaving of functions by careful scheduling, (b) digital beam forming for target surveillance and (c) fast (electronic) scanning for the weather surveillance. Using these techniques it is possible to design an architecture in which the transmit/receive module (TRM) may operate with a rated low peak power, compatible with the low-cost requirement.