Active Phased Array Radar Systems

Dr. Yasser Al-Rashid

Lockheed Martin MS2 Radar Systems
yasser.al-rashid@lmco.com (856)722-6029

November 17, 2009

Outline
Radar System Components Definition of Active Phased Array Radar System Benefits of Active Array Active Array System Design and Analysis Advanced Active Array Architecture Definition of Digital Phased Array Radar System Benefits of Digital Array Examples of Phased Array Radar Systems Polarimetric Phased Array Definition of Dual pol Configurations Benefits of Dual pol Phased Array Multi-Mission Phased Array Enablers Simultaneous Multi Beams (DBF) Multi Frequencies System Cost and Maintenance Considerations
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What is an Active Phased Array?

Basic definition: an array of radiating antenna elements having transmit and receive active components at each element (T/R modules) High-power amplifiers (HPA) for transmit Low-noise amplifiers (LNA) for receive Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC) Solid-state semiconductor components provide signal gain - not vacuum tubes Solid-state technologies generally associated with the substrate material Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) Silicon Germanium (SiGe) Silicon Carbide (SiC) Gallium Nitride (GaN) Tube technologies Klystron Cross-field amplifiers (CFA) Traveling wave tube (TWT)
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Active Radar Major Components

Antenna Radiating elements T/R module Beamformer Beam steering computer Exciter (waveform generator) Receiver (RF signal to digital) Signal Processor (target detection processing) Radar Controller (Synchronize, Control and schedule radar operation)
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Radar System Configurations

Radar System Design Evolution Over Time

Mechanical Steering Beam Steering Computer Beam Steering Computer
LNA

(phase control)

(phase control)

T/R Modules Per Element

Receiver
HPA

Transmitter

LNA Down Converter ADC

HPA

Receiver
LNA Down Converter ADC

Transmitter

Receiver
Down Converter

Exciter Control Computer

Digital Signal Processor

Exciter Control Computer

Digital Signal Processor

Exciter Control Computer Digital Signal Processor

Passive Rotating Dish Radar System

Passive Phased Array Radar System

Active Phased Array Radar System

HPA

Key Active/Passive Design Differences

Receiver
LNA

HPA

Transmitter Transmit/Receive losses Exciter

Passive Antenna driven by single large transmitter amplifier (HPA) First receive LNA after beam is formed Large signal loss between radiating element and transmitter/LNA Antenna connects to transmitter and receiver
T/R module
LNA HPA

Beamformer

Passive

Receiver

Exciter

Transmit/Receive losses

Active T/R module behind each radiating element Transmitter distributed through antenna in many small HPAs First LNA distributed through antenna in many small LNAs Small signal loss between HPA/LNA and radiating element Antenna is transmitter and receiver

Beamformer

Active

Active Antenna is HPA and LNA Passive Antenna Connects to HPA and LNA
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Active Array Radar System Benefits Summary

Design and operation Replace waveguide (radar plumbing) with cables No tube warm-up time or pulsing limitations Reliability Mean-time between failure generally higher (better) for solid-state electronics than tubes Graceful degradation performance with component failures Performance Noise figure - > improved detection sensitivity Clutter attenuation - > improved detection sensitivity in the presence of clutter Enabler of digital beamforming
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Active Antenna Noise Figure Benefits

Noise figure of a component or system is characteristic of signal-to-noise ratio degradation through the component First active component in receive chain sets the noise figure Placing active components before lossy passive components improves noise figure
NFchain = NF1 +
G = -3 dB NF = 3 dB G = 10 dB NF = 3 dB
Loss LNA Net Gain (dB) -3 10 7

NF2 - 1 G1
NF (dB) 3 3 6

LNA

G = 10 dB NF = 3 dB

G = -3 dB NF = 3 dB
LNA Loss Net

LNA

Gain (dB) 10 -3 7

NF (dB) 3 3 3.21

Example: Lower noise figure when LNA is placed before the Lossy component

Active Array Has Detection Sensitivity Benefits Due to Location of Receiver LNA Upfront in Receiver Chain
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Clutter Attenuation

System capability to reduce clutter interference is limited by hardware instability errors Pulse to pulse phase/amplitude errors Intra-pulse noise Significant contributors Analog-digital converter (ADC) Down-conversion 1st Local Oscillator (LO) High-power amplifiers (HPA) Low-noise amplifiers (LNA) Exciter/waveform generator Active Antenna improves system clutter attenuation Errors de-correlate across distributed HPA/LNA

Active Antenna Benefits to Clutter Attenuation

Active System 60 80 50 1000 69.6 70 50 1000 60 56.7 Passive System 60 50 50 1 50.0 70 50 1 60 46.6

Passive

Receiver
LNA

ADC

LO
HPA

Transmitter Exciter

Exciter Transmitter HPA N HPA Receiver LO LNA N LNA ADC System

Beamformer Beamformer

Example: Clutter attenuation improved by distributed amplifier error de-correlation ADC

Active

Receiver LO

1 1 1 1 1 = + + + CAsys CAexciter CAtransmitter CAreceiver CAADC

1 CAtransmitter 1 = = N HPA CAHPA

Exciter

CAreceiver

N 1 + LNA CALO CALNA

Active Array Enables Higher System Clutter Attenuation Due to Distributed HPA/LNA Architecture
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Performance Analysis Example

Example systems with representative parameters Passive 1000 elements 1 Mega-watt transmitter 1% transmit duty 10 kW average power 20 kW prime power at 50% PAE Active 1000 elements 5 W T/R module 10% transmit duty 500 W average power 2 kW prime power at 25% PAE
Passive T/R Module Power - Watts Number of Elements Gain of Element - dB Transmit Power (Pt) - Watts Transmit loss (Lt) - dB Receive Gain (Gr) - dB Receive loss (Lr) - dB System Noise temperture (Tsys) Transmit Duty (Du) Round-trip Sensitivity Factor 1000 3.00 100000 3 30 3 1000 1% 24.0 Active 5 1000 3.00 5000 1.5 30 1.5 1000 10% 24.0

Roundtrip Sensivity Factor :=

Pt Du Gt Gr Tsys Lt Lr

Equal detection performance: Passive system high-peak power, low duty Active system low-peak power, high duty

Pt Gt Gr l2st R = (4p )3 SNRdet kTsys Lt Lr Lsigpro L...

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Active and Passive Radar Systems Can Be Designed to Provide Same Detection Performance With Different Operating Methodologies
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Active Antenna Enables Digital Beamforming

Digital beamforming is digitization of radar signal at the radiating element / sub-array level Beams are formed in digital domain using digital computation hardware Number of beams formed constrained by computation latency and data throughput Digital beamforming affords multiple simultaneous beams and improved System instantaneous dynamic range (IDR) and clutter attenuation Multiple beams can be employed in analog beamforming Additional RF losses (degraded detection sensitivity) RF hardware complexity to incorporate multiple beam analog networks
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Advanced System Configurations

Advancement in Active Phased Array Architecture
Beam Steering Computer
(phase & amp control)
LNA

Beam Steering Computer

(phase & amp control)
LNA

Beam Steering Computer

HPA LNA

HPA

HPA

On Array Components

T/R Modules Per Element

On Array Components

T/R Modules Per Element

T/R Modules Per Element

Exciter Exciter Exciter Receiver

Down Converter

Receiver (1-N) Receiver Down Converter Receiver Down Converter

Down Converter ADC

Transceiver Receiver (1-M)Converter Receiver Down Down Converter Per Element Digital Beamformer
On Array Components

Exciter Control Computer Digital Signal Processor Control Computer

Digital Beamformer Digital Signal Processor

Control Computer

Digital Signal Processor

Active Phased Array Radar System

Digital at Subarray Level Radar System

Digital at Element Level Radar System

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Future Work Trends

Everything gets smaller, lighter More components get integrated inside Antenna All transmitter, receiver, exciter equipment condensed into the Antenna box Move A/D converter closer to radiating element improves system dynamic range All digital beam-forming done inside the Antenna box Digital beam-forming introduces capability of multiple simultaneous formed beams Wide-band gap HPA devices (example SiC T/R Modules) Higher T/R module output power Higher efficiency

Radar System Design Evolution Over Time

Passive Antenna Beamformer Beamformer Active Antenna
HPA LNA

Down-convert

ADC Future Active Antenna Beamformer

Down-convert Down-convert ADC ADC

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Benefits of Digital Beam-forming: Multiple Simultaneous Beams

Analog Beamforming: One beam at a time

6 1

7 2

8 3
Azimuth

9 4

10 5
Dwells 1-10

Digital Beamforming: Pair of beams at a time

1 1

2 2

3 3
Azimuth

4 4

5 5
Dwells 1-5

Cover same volume with fewer dwell positions Additional radar timeline made available Shorter frame time -> quick target detection Longer waveform integration -> higher detection sensitivity, clutter mitigation Incorporate multiple simultaneous radar functions Example: Number of dwell locations reduced by factor of 2 via multiple digital beams Increase waveform integration time by 2X or Reduce search frame time by 2X

Elevation

Elevation

Digital Beam Forming Affords Simultaneous Beams Benefits Radar Timeline

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Benefits of Digital Beamforming: Dynamic Range

RF Signal Input to Each Array Element

x1 x2

xN

RF Signal Input to Each Array Element Analog beam forming: Input to ADC is formed beam signal: summation of analog signals System IDR limited by ADC IDR Digital beam forming Input to ADC is element/subarray analog signal: formed beam is summation of digital signals System IDR is N X ADC IDR

x1 x2

xN

Beamformer Sum Beam Receiver ADC

Beam forming on analog (RF) signals

Receiver

Receiver

Receiver

Receiver

Receiver

Input to ADC is beam former output

Input to ADC is element output

ADC

ADC

ADC

ADC

ADC

ADC IDR (dB) N ADC System IDR (dB)

ABF 60 1 60

DBF 60 50 77

Digital Beamformer Sum Beam

Beam forming on digital data

Example: IDR improved by distributed ADC, further up receive chain

Digital Beam Forming Benefits System Dynamic Range Due to Distributed ADC
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Examples of Multi-function PAR Radars

Passive Phased Array

Digital Phased Array

SPY-1A (1970s)

NWRT (2003)

Active Phased Array

R&D (2006) EQ-36 (2010)
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COBRA (1980s)

SPY-4 VSR (2008)

Dual Pol Configuration Modes

Alternating Transmit and Simultaneous Receive (ATSR) Mode Simultaneous Transmit and Simultaneous Receive (STSR) Mode Alternating Transmit and Alternating Receive (ATAR) Mode

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Alternating Transmit and Simultaneous Receive (ATSR) Mode

Alternate Transmit and Simultaneous Receive (ATSR) Mode: Vertical pol transmit and simultaneously receive from both polarizations; then Horizontal pol transmit and simultaneously receive from both polarizations + compatibility with existing NCAR algorithms + Linear Depolarization Ratio (LDR) can be measured + achievable cross polarization isolation (-25 dB) + common waveform generator for both polarization -- need to use switch, -- requires longer scan time
Dual Pol ATSR mode

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Simultaneous Transmit and Simultaneous Receive (STSR) Mode

Simultaneous Transmit and Simultaneous Receive (STSR) Mode: Simultaneous independent transmission of two orthogonally polarized channels and simultaneous receive from both channels
Dual Pol STSR mode

+ compatibility with current NEXRAD algorithms + provide circular polarization capability + efficient scanning time -- must match/balance two receivers, control gain drifting, temperature -- challenging cross polarization requirements (-45 dB)

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Alternating Transmit and Alternating Receive (ATAR) Mode

Dual Pol STSR mode

Alternating Transmit and Alternating Receive (ATAR) Mode: Vertical pol transmit and receive co-polar; then Horizontal pol transmit and receive copolar

+ achievable cross polarization isolation (-25 dB) + only one receiver required (no need to balance receivers) -- -- need to use switch, -- requires longer scan time, --unsuitable for batch mode, staggered or variable PRTs

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Hardware Implication for Different Dual Pol Configurations

Relative Cost & Complexity
Single Pol

Dual Pol
Alternate Tx Simultaneous Rx Alternate Tx Alternate Rx

Simultaneous Tx Simultaneous Rx

$$ $$$ $$

RF Switch Transmit Chain

N/A Low

N/A High

High Low

High Low Low Medium

Receive Chain Digital Beamforming Processing Off Array Signal Processor Over all Cost

Low Low

High High

High High

Low

High

High

Medium

$$$$

$$$

$$
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Multi-Mission Active Radar

With technological advances provided by Solid State Phased Arrays simultaneous scheduling of multiple radar timelines is achievable Within a single mission the use of beam spoiling on transmit and DBF on receive can reduce the scan time significantly to support multi-mission operation. Across multiple missions, the simultaneous use of multiple frequencies that are sufficiently spaced allows the multiplexing necessary to support multi-mission operation.
Digital Phased Arrays With Multiple Frequencies Provide the Capabilities for Multi-Mission Operations
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Multi Frequency Channels

Multi frequency channels radar enable multi-mission and multiface radar operation Point target operation 10 Mhz frequency separation provides enough isolation for simultaneous multi-mission operation without interference
Mission A
4 Active Antenna Fixed Faces (top view)

Mission B Face 3 Face 2

Mission C Face 4

Face 1

f1

f2

f3

f4

f1
x MHz

f2

f3

f4

Frequency

y MHz
f= Transmitted Pulse Isntantenous Band Width

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Active vs. Passive Design Selection Criteria

Selection of an active system based on the performance and functions that are desired from the system and the cost that is desired for the system Analysis needs to consider cost, performance and reliability

Passive
Cost Performance
More expensive than rotating dish Low transmit duty limits functions Lower signal stability limits capability in clutter environments Lower reliability Tube transmitter is potential singlepoint failure Very High signal levels lead to mechanical switches (i.e. waveguide switches)

Active
Higher cost than Passive, but has potential cost reduction with time High duty enables more functions High signal stability enhanced capability in clutter environments High reliability Multiple HPAs distributed, graceful degradation Lower signal levels allow solidstate switches

Reliability

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Summary

Active Phased Array Antenna has signal transmit and receive amplifiers in the Antenna Antenna is the transmitter and receiver Active arrays provide reliability and performance improvements over passive systems All solid-state design and components Graceful degradation Design of active radar systems introduce additional complexities Power, cooling, calibration Additional requirements on antenna Active Radar system development is hardly new Systems exist Lockheed Martin has produced an advanced solid-state radar demonstrator S4R: Risk reduction for near and far term business pursuits In the future, components will be smaller, lighter and the Antenna will have much more capability
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Keywords
Term ABF ADC AESA Beamformer CA Circulator DBF Duty factor EIRP ESA Exciter HPA IDR ITOI LNA MMIC NF PAE Phase-shifter Receiver SFDR SLL T/R Module TOI Definition Analog beamforming Analog to digital convertor Active ESA Network of microwave dividers and combiners that 'form' the transmit and receive beams of a phased array Clutter attenuation - measure of stability limitation to mitigate clutter Component that allows one-way signal flow - Transmit direction, receive direction Digital beamforming - beamforming done in digital domain using computers as opposed to using analog hardware Ration of ON time to OFF time Effective isotropic radiated power Electronic scanning antenna (array) Generates radar signal, upconverts to microwave signal High-power amplifier Instantaneous dynamic range - useful signal range Input TOI Low-noise amplifier Monolithic microwave integrated circuit Noise figure - measure of the noise added to a signal by a component Power added efficiency Component behind each element in a phased array that steers the beam Processes received radar microwave signal - down-converts and digitizes Spur free dynamic range - measure of useful signal range before distortion Sidelobe level of antenna pattern Self-contained module having solid-state MMICs, HPAs and LNAs Third order intercept - measure of distortion introduced by component

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Weather Radar and Polarization

In general, weather radars send and receive microwaves at one polarization, usually horizontal. Dual Polarization is used to obtain additional information on the nature of the targets. Potential non cooperative target recognition Comparing the relative strength and phase of the horizontal and vertical returns determines scatters orientation Three dual pol weather modes of operations: Alternate transmit and alternate receive Alternate transmit and simultaneous receive (NCAR) Simultaneous transmit and simultaneous receive (NEXRAD)

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Benefits of Polarimetric Phase Array Radar for Weather Sensing

Accurate hydrometeor classification Distinction of rain from other types of hydrometeors Improved ground clutter cancellation Improved compensation for reflectivity biases Estimation of rain fall rate

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