Future of RF Technology and Radars

What will future radar developments look like, and how will the customer afford them? Today, industry is not only developing technologies to enhance radar performance, but it is also developing new ways to integrate multiple radar and communications functions, focusing on cost as a primary requirement. Active electronically scanned arrays (AESAs) for radar and communication systems have been fielded in military and commercial applications for more than 30 years. While the flexibility, performance and reliability of AESAs is proven, the pursuit of increased capability is a challenge for both semiconductor technology and circuit/product design. To provide best value to our customers and to achieve market potential, affordability needs to be the major consideration. This paper discusses future trends, enabling technologies and related cost issues facing radar systems engineers.