Dual-use bistatic multi-frequency HF radar for ship classification and mapping of oceanic currents and vector winds

We discuss a dual-use bistatic HF radar design using multi-frequency operation over the HF band for ship classification and mapping of ocean current shear. The radar is based on a digital transceiver PCI card family that supports antenna arrays of four to 32 elements in a single PC computer, with larger arrays possible using additional PC. We show measurement and modeling examples of multiple frequency HF radar cross section (RCS) of ships to demonstrate target classification. Results of using 32 frequencies to measure the fine structure in ocean current vertical shear are also shown.