Phased-Array Radar Systems Engineering Bootcamp

While phased-array radar systems were originally conceived for use in military radar systems, phased-array radar systems are now widely used and have spread to civilian applications such as 5G MIMO for cellphones.

The advantages of phased-array radar systems are substantial. For starters, phased-array radar systems offer higher directivity because of the number of elements in an array.

Phased-array radar systems also provide electronic steering. This means cumbersome mechanical steering using servo motors can be avoided. In fact, the beam can be moved in the desired direction in less than milliseconds.

Used for both tracking and surveillance, phased-array radar systems can emit multiple beams simultaneously to deliver multifunction operations. Beam steering is possible in two planes using planar array configuration. Digital beamforming is also possible.

Additionally, advances in data converter technologies with advanced process nodes have made direct sampling of RF frequencies possible. A variation of this is hybrid beamforming where sub-arrays are created, each having its own signal processing and data converters.

Phased array radar systems engineering technology uses an arrangement of antenna elements where the relative phase of each element is varied to steer the radiation pattern or beam.

Phased-array radar devices produce an angular scanning of the horizon without mechanical rotation of the antenna. This can be achieved by a voltage-dependent phase shift in the antenna elements. Such shifts can be generated in bulk ferroelectrics.

Unlike traditional radar, phased-array radar systems can emit multiple beams simultaneously to deliver multifunction operations.

Phased-array radar systems also offers higher directivity because of the greater number of elements in the array. This also allows surveillance and tracking in radar and the beam can be moved in the desired direction in less than milliseconds.

Additionally, beam steering (as well as digital beamforming) is possible in two planes using planar array configuration.

One famous phased-array radar system is AN/FPS-85 in Florida, a device used for space target tracking. The working frequency is 442 MHz, the effective receiving beam width is 0.8 degree, the azimuth angle in the searching space is 102 degrees, the elevation angle is 105 degrees, and the detection range is up to 4000 km.

It can simultaneously track over 200 targets and perform over 10,000 detections against thousands of space targets.

Phased-Array Radar Systems Engineering Bootcamp Course by Tonex

Phased-Array Radar Systems Engineering Bootcamp is a 3-day training program covering phased array radar principles, latest technological developments, software, system analysis, requirements, architecture, design and operation. Examine major subsystems and associated technologies with specialists in those areas.

Participants will learn about principles and the technology of the phased array antenna and radar system engineering, analysis, design, performance and implementation, verification and validation, and operation and maintenance.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Radar Systems Design and Engineering Training course, the attendees will be able to:

• List terminology, principle,  concepts, subsystems and components related to the systems engineering and design
• Analyze and discuss applications and technologies behind multi-function phased-array radar systems
• Review phased-array radar systems recent technological development, design, engineering and operation process and principles
• Evaluate theory of operation of modern phased-array radars
• Identify principles, procedures, design, engineering techniques and evolution of phased-array radar technology
• Discuss Radar Concept of Operation (ConOps), functional architecture, system requirement, system design, architecture, performance, operation and maintenance, and troubleshooting
• Sketch a high-level architecture of a simple phased-array system covering  functions, components and subsystems including transmitters, receivers, antennas, clutter and noise, detection, signal processing modules, operations, software
• Determine basic acceptable phased-array radar system performance based on radar environment
• Provide detection, identification, and classification of objects/targets using different phased-array radar systems
• Understanding environmental and terrain effects on radar operations phased-array radar countermeasures target probability of detection and probability of false alarm
• Discuss applications and technologies behind  phased-array radar systems technologies

Who Should Attend

• System Engineers and Designers
• Software, Hardware and Testing Engineers
• Technical Managers
• Technicians
• Logistics and Support
• Operations
• Procurement and Specifications Writing Practitioners

Course Agenda and Topics

Introduction to Radar Systems

• Radar 101
• Applications of Radar
• Types of Radars
• the Radar Equation
• Radar System Engineering Principals
• Conceptual Radar System Design
• Subsystems of Radar
• Transmitters and Receivers
• Antennas
• Duplexer
• Operation
• Signal Processing
• Propagation Effects
• Target Radar Cross Section
• Detection Principles
• Radar Clutter and Chaff Principles
• Pulse Doppler Techniques
• Tracking and Parameter Estimation

Phased  Array Radar Fundamentals

• Phased Array Radar Systems 101
• History and Evolution of Phased Arrays
• Phased Array Radar System Engineering, Development and Acquisition
• Phased Array Radar Conops
• Phased Array Radar System Requirements
• Phased Array Design
• Phased Array Radar Verification and Validation (V&V)
• Beam Steering Logic
• Improvements in Radar Functionality and Performance
• Control and Scheduling
• Phased Array Radar Sizing and Performance Estimation
• Signal Processing
• Phased Array Radar Antennas
• Array Theory
• Planar Arrays and Beam Steering
• Aperture Matching and Mutual Coupling
• Low-sidelobe Phased Arrays
• Quantization Effects
• Bandwidth of Phased Arrays
• Feed Networks (Beamformers)
• Phase Shifters
• Solid-state Modules
• Multiple Simultaneous Receive Beams
• Digital Beamforming
• Radiation Pattern Nulling
• Calibration of Active Phased Array Antennas
• Calibration and Alignment
• Computer-aided Design of Phased Arrays
• Transmitters and Receivers
• Multiple Target Tracking

Phased-array Radar Design: Application of Radar Fundamentals

• Array Beamforming
• Array Beamforming (Beam Collimation)
• Polarization
• Electronic Scanning
• Active Transmit
• Receive Modules
• Beam Agility
• Effective Radar Resource Management
• Graceful Degradation With Module Failures
• Current Trend Is Towards Active Arrays With Distributed T/r Modules
• Large Number of Distributed Active Components and Control
• High Levels of Integration Required to Achieve Low Cost

Radar Antenna Architectures

• Dish Antenna
• Passive Phased Array
• Active Phased Array
• Active Array T/r Module
• Phased Array Radar Evolution
• Radar Engineering
• Radar General Description
• Subsystems of Radar and Signal Processing
• Antenna Feed Assembly as
• Radar Sensing Instruments
• Radar Instrument Characteristics
• Phased Array Antenna
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Possible Arrangements
• Linear Arrays
• Linear Array of a Phased-array Antenna
• Planar Array of a Phased-array Antenna
• Planar Arrays
• Frequency Scanning Array
• Phase-increment Calculating
• Data Processing Algorithms for Phased-array Radars
• Radar Data Processing Algorithms Used by Phased-array Radars (PARS))
• Algorithm Purpose and Type

Target Detection

• Radar Design
• the Detection of Targets in Real-world Environments
• the Practical Application of Target Detection Concepts to Radar Design and Analysis
• Waveforms, Matched Filtering, and Radar Signal Processing
• Waveforms Employed by Radars
• Concept of the Optimal Matched Filter Processor
• Common Signal Processing Implementations Used in Phased-array Radars

Search and Acquisition Functions

• Various Types of Radar Searches,
• Volume Search, Horizon Fence Search, Cued Search, and Sector Search
• Different Types of Waveforms
• Acquisition Function
• Track Initiation (Ti)
• Types of Searches
• Search Design
• Search Waveforms and Processing

Estimation, Tracking, and Data Association

• Concepts of Parameter Estimation, Target Tracking
• Data Association Algorithms
• Multiple-target Tracking in Real-world Environments
• Parameter Estimation for Radar
• Radar Tracking Function
• Waveforms and Signal Processing
• Types of Tracking Filters
• Data Association Algorithms
• Nearest-neighbor – Probabilistic Data Association (PDA)
• Tracking Air Targets
• Aircraft
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Cruise Missiles; Tracking Ballistic Missile Targets
• Tracking Surface Targets
• Ships and Vehicles

Target Classification, Discrimination, and Identification

• Target Classification, Discrimination, and Identification
• Introduction to the Target Classification Problem
• Radar-measured Target Features
• Waveforms and Signal Processing; Feature Extraction
• Bayes Classifiers
• Dempster-shafer Classifiers
• Decision Trees; Classification of Air Targets
• Noncooperative Target Recognition; Target Identification (Id)
• Classification of Ballistic Missile Targets
• Discrimination
• Hit or Kill Assessment

Interference Suppression Techniques

• Unintentional and Intentional Interference
• Degrading the Performance
• Interference Suppression

Phased-array Radar Architectures

• Common Phased-array Radar (Par) Architectures
• Antenna-based
• Bandwidth-based
• Radar Function-based

Fundamental Radar Design Trade-offs

• Radar Design Trade-offs
• Operating Frequency Selection
• Waveform Selection
• Radar Coverage
• Receiver Operating Characteristic Design
• Search Design
• Tracking Architecture and Parameter Selection
• Target Classification

Performance-driven Radar Requirements

• Design of Phased-array
• System-level Radar Requirements
• Hardware and Software Subsystems
• Components
• Majority of Phased-array Radar Systems

Missile Defense Radar Design Considerations

• Key Aspects of Missile Defense Radar Design
• Missile Defense Mission Parameters and Requirements
• Ballistic Missile Threat Types
• Interceptor Capability
• Desired Defended Area
• Radar Requirement
• Performance Evaluation
• Design
• Verification and Validation

Early Warning Radar Design Considerations

• Aspects of Early Warning Radar Design
• Early Warning Mission Parameters and Requirements
• Target/threat Types
• Desired Surveillance and Associated Functions
• Performance Evaluation
• Design Verification
• Validation

 Air Defense Radar Design Considerations

• Air Defense Radar Design
• Air Defense Mission Parameters and Requirements
• Air Target Threat Types
• Interceptor Capabilities
• Performance Evaluation and Design Verification

Predicted Performance of Phased-array Radars

• Performance Evaluation of Phased-array Radars
• Performance KPIs
• Target Detection;
• Radar Tracking;
• Interference Suppression
• Clutter Cancellation Performance
• Hardware Subsystems

Course Reference Hand Book: Phased-Array Radar Design: Application of Radar Fundamentals by Thomas W. Jeffrey

Phased-Array Radar Systems Engineering Bootcamp