Radar and EMSO Subsystem Test Part 2: Measuring Radar and EW Signals
Application Notes
Illustrious names behind the earliest experiments in electromagnetism include Heinrich Hertz, James Clark Maxwell, and Nikola Tesla. Engineers continue to build on their fundamental ideas (i.e. metallic objects reflect and absorb radio waves) into technologies used in the most advanced military applications: detecting, ranging, tracking, evading, jamming, and more.
Radar system performance continues to evolve at higher frequencies with agile signals and complex modulation schemes that demand wider bandwidth. Advanced digital signal processing (DSP) techniques are used to disguise system operation and avoid jamming. Within the operating environment, the range of complexities may include ground clutter, sea clutter, jamming, interference, wireless communication signals, and other forms of electromagnetic noise. It may also include multiple targets, many of which utilize materials and technologies that present a reduced radar cross-section. Most recently, defense groups are starting to leverage machine learning, both for automatically classifying threats and developing an appropriate response.
This application note starts with the basics of radar and EW transmitter and receiver. It covers the latest requirements, technologies, and instruments to measure radar power, analyze pulses, and characterize angle of arrival.