Digital active-aperture phased-array radar

A digital active-aperture architecture for phased-array radars has been proposed by NRL to improve performance and reduce the life-cycle cost of future USA Navy radars. Considering various approaches, NRL has been procuring and testing various component alternatives and is implementing the design described above in order to demonstrate this technology. The simulations, analysis, and laboratory measurements that have been performed support this development. Although much progress has already been made, several important issues must still be resolved. These include the amount of processing required in the digital section for high precision, the size and performance of the up/downconverters, and the size and cost of on-module generation of the LO and the digital clock. Under a new FY00 ONR program, MTT Lincoln Laboratories, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, and NRL will draw on their individual developments to collectively construct a 100-T/R module phased-array radar. To be considered viable, digital active aperture array radar must demonstrate high performance with relatively low life-cycle cost and complexity. NRL results to date hold the promise of unprecedented performance in jamming and EMI with low life-cycle cost and high availability for USA Navy applications