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Introduction
1. The radar transmitter will affect the overall performance of the radar and as
such is a major component of any radar system. The choice of radar transmitter
determines the signal parameters, maximum and minimum ranges and range
resolution.
2. The purpose of a radar transmitter is to convert the input pulses from the
modulator, which is direct current (dc) electrical energy, into short, high-power pulses
of radio frequency (RF) energy. The radar transmitter is usually a large part of a
radar system’s overall cost, size and weight. It also requires the major share of
available power and maintenance.
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4. The invention of the magnetron in the 1940 made pulsed radar possible.
Since that time however a number of developments have improved the performance
and capability of subsequent radar systems Examples of types of radar transmitters
include:
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Radar Range
5. A basic pulse radar can measure the range, azimuth and/or elevation of a
target. The range of a target is calculated by measuring how long the radio waves
take to reach the target and return. The time is usually measured from the centre of
the transmitted signal, to the centre of the received echo (centroid ranging). Radio
waves travel at essentially a constant speed; the velocity of light. Therefore a
target’s range is half the round-trip transit time, multiplied by the speed of light. The
range measured by all radar systems is termed slant range; can differ from the plan
range, (that is the range as seen from directly overhead).
Transmitter Power
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required. The higher the average power, the larger and heavier the transmitter
tends to be.
10. To maximise a radar’s detection range, average power may be increased by:
Radar Resolution
12. Range resolution depends upon the radar's pulse width (PW). If the distance
between targets is less than ½ the pulse width, the radar echoes will merge and be
displayed as a single target. If the distance between the targets is greater than ½
the pulse width, the radar will display separate contacts (See Figure 5).
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13. Modern radars use a receiver process known as pulse compression to
increase range resolution in many long-range types of radar.
14. Angle Resolution is defined as the ability of radar to separate targets that are
at the same range, but on slightly different bearings. It is determined by the
beamwidth of a radar antenna and the range of the targets. (This is because the
width of the beam increases with range.) Angle resolution applies to azimuth and
elevation angles, expressed by the values of horizontal and vertical beamwidths.
15. The Radar Resolution Cell can be described in terms of both range and angle.
This is a 3-dimensional volume in which targets will not be separated. It is
dependent on ½ the pulse width and the horizontal and vertical beamwidths.
16. The greatest range at which a radar system can correctly detect radar echoes
is called maximum unambiguous range. To display the range correctly, the echo
from the first pulse must be received before the second pulse is transmitted. If the
echo from the first pulse is not received until after the second pulse is transmitted,
the range calculation based on the time between transmission and reception will be
in error. This is called range ambiguity and depends on the PRI or PRF.
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CW Radar
17. Pulse radars measure target range, azimuth and elevation. To do this they
use a single antenna that both transmits pulses and receives the weak target
echoes. However, pulse radars have a number of disadvantages:
a. They transmit their peak power continuously. This means power levels
can be as high as the transmitter and waveguide limitations will allow.
20. The military make use of Continuous Wave devices in a number of ways
these include:
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b. CW Illuminating Radars. CW radar can be used to illuminate airborne
targets for missile guidance. Surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) or air-to-air
missiles (AAMs) can then home on to the reflected energy. Examples include
the Russian SA-6 Gainful, American I-HAWK SAM, Russian AA-10A Alamo
and American AIM-7 Sparrow AAMs.
21. PD radar combines the advantages of pulse radar with the advantages of CW
radar. This allows the range and velocity to be measured using a single pulse-form.
PD radars are commonly used in modern fighter-aircraft as air intercept (AI) radars.
22. The Pulse Doppler radar has a relatively long pulse width compared with
ordinary pulse radar. The duty cycle is relatively high; generally around 45 to 50%.
The pulses are also coherent, which allows for the velocity of the target to be
calculated. PRFs can range from a few hundred Hz to several hundred kHz and the
choice of PRF affects the type of ambiguities occur with a PD waveform.
24. The choice of PRF is crucial for PD radar. Modern PD radars overcome
range and velocity ambiguities by switching between different PRFs.
Summary
25. The purpose of a radar transmitter is to convert the dc input pulses into short,
high-power pulses of RF energy. These pulses can be coherent or non-coherent,
depending on the type of transmitter amplifier. Average power is the key factor in
determining the radar’s potential detection range and may be increased by
decreasing the PRI, by increasing the pulse width or by increasing the peak power.
In a basic pulse radar system, range resolution and minimum range are dependent
on the PW. PRF affects the maximum unambiguous range and the range and
velocity ambiguities that arise in PD radar.
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26. The use of CW radar is increasing as it offers a number of advantages over
pulsed radar. The application of Pulse Doppler or Frequency Modulated carrier
Wave is becoming increasingly more evident.