Radar 101

Rick Reaser
+1-310-647-3762
rick_reaser@raytheon.com

May 19, 2010

Agenda
What is radar?
How is it different?
How does it work?
What frequencies are talking about?
How is it used?
How is it regulated?
What are the trends?
Summary
What is Radar?

Radar RAdio Detection And Ranging

1. Are the Germans coming?

2. Where are they now?
3. How long until they get there?
4. What do they look like?
5. What are they made of?
Radar translated into spectrum speak
radar: A radiodetermination system based on the comparison of reference
signals with radio signals reflected, or retransmitted, from the position to be
determined

primary radar: A radiodetermination system based on the comparison

of reference signals with radio signals reflected from the position to be
determined

secondary radar: A radiodetermination system based on the

comparison of reference signals with radio signals retransmitted from
the position to be determined

You ask, Just what is radiodetermination?

More radar spectrum speak

radiodetermination: The determination of the position, velocity and/or other characteristics of

an object, or the obtaining of information relating to these parameters, by means of the
propagation properties of radio waves.

radionavigation: radiodetermination radiolocation: radiodetermination used

used for the purposes of navigation, for purposes other than those of
including obstruction warning. radionavigation.

aeronautical radionavigation service radiolocation-satellite service

aeronautical radionavigation-satellite service

maritime radionavigation service

maritime radionavigation-satellite service

radionavigation-satellite service

radiodetermination-satellite service
How is Radar different that other radio services?
Radar is not typically used to communicate or transmit information
Used to collect, gather or generate information
Its a sensor

Radar typically uses very high power transmitters and extremely sensitive
receivers that employ sophisticated processing techniques

Radar doesnt typically share well with other radio services

Radar is typically not a consumer item

But, like many other radio services, radar needs more bandwidth to
provide the most benefit
How does Radar work?
Its a lot like shining a flashlight at something

Most objects aircraft, ships, vehicles, buildings, terrain, etc. reflect

radio waves, like they do light.

Key differences
Frequencies of light are much higher
Some frequencies used by radar have special properties

Examples
Atmosphere is nearly transparent to some radio frequencies
Objects can be seen through: night, day, fog, clouds, haze
Some frequencies can pass through solid objects
See through the wall
The Basic Idea
Send out a signal (usually a pulse)

Signal reflects off the object of interest

Measure the time it took to receive the reflection and look at other
changes in the reflected signal

Modern radars modulate the pulses to obtain better performance and

achieve special effects
Radar design involves trade offs
Frequency Lower Higher
Wavelength Longer Shorter
Power Higher Lower
Noise Higher Lower
Equipment Size Larger Smaller
Detection Range Longer Shorter
Resolution Lower Higher
Beamwidth Wider Narrower

No optimum frequency that meets all radar needs

 USA
Govt.

Region 3
Region 2
Region 1
Non-Govt.
0 Hz

International
7090 kHz
110-130 kHz

- Primary
1606.5-1625 kHz
1625-1635 kHz
1635-1705 kHz
1705-1800 kHz
1800-1810 kHz
1810-1850 kHz
1850-1900 kHz
1900-2000kHz
3230-3400 kHz
- Secondary

138-144 MHz
216-217 MHz
217-220 MHz
220-223 MHz
223-225 MHz
225-230 MHz
420-430 MHz
430-440 MHz
440-450 MHz

890-902 MHz
902-928 MHz
928-942 MHz

1215-1240 MHz
1240-1300 MHz
1300-1350 MHz
1350-1400 MHz

2300-2305 MHz
2305-2310 MHz
2310-2320 MHz
2320-2345 MHz
2345-2360 MHz
2360-2390 MHz
2390-2417 MHz
2417-2450 MHz
2450-2483.5 MHz
2483.5-2500 MHz
2900-3400 MHz
3400-3500 MHz
3500-3600 MHz
3600-3650 MHz
3650-3700 MHz
5250-5470 MHz
5470-5650 MHz
5650-5850 MHz
5850-5925 MHz

8500-9000 MHz
9000-9200 MHz
9200-9500 MHz
9500-10500 MHz
10.5-10.55 GHz
10.55-10.68 GHz
Radiolocation Frequency Allocations (D.C. to 300 GHz)

13.4-14 GHz
15.7-17.3 GHz
17.3-17.7 GHz
33.4-35.5 GHz
59-64 GHz
76-77.5 GHz
78-81 GHz
92-100 GHz
136-148.5 GHz
151.5-155.5 GHz
231.5-235 GHz
238-248 GHz
300 GHz
Radar Band Uses (1)

Frequency Band Typical Uses

VLF Long range surveillance

1.7 30 MHz Over-the-horizon

Ionospheric sounding

VHF Long range surveillance and track

75 MHz 300 MHz Space track

(140-170 MHz) Environmental monitoring

Foliage penetration

UHF Airborne early warning

400 500 MHz Long range surveillance and track

(420 to 450 MHz) Space situation awareness

L-band Airborne surveillance and tracking

800 1400 MHz Air Traffic Control

(1200 to 1400 MHz) Missile Tracking

Radar Band Uses (2)
Frequency Band Typical Uses

S-Band Maritime radar

2000 3000 MHz Air and battlefield surveillance and tracking

(2.2 to 2.4 GHz) Space situation awareness

(3.2 to 3.4 GHz) Wall penetration

Weather

C-Band Missile tracking

3000 6000 MHz Fire control

X-Band Tracking and fire control

8 GHz 12 GHz Mid-range Airborne Moving Target Indicator

(8.5 to 10.5 GHz) (AMTI)

Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI)

Synthetic Aperature Radar (SAR) Imagery

Precision location

Combat Identificaion

Maritime search and track

Radar Band Uses (3)
Frequency Band Typical Uses

Ku-Band Missile tracking

12.5 18 GHz SAR/GMTI

Ka-Band SAR/GMTI
20 GHz 40 GHz Battlefield surveillance andtracking

Missile seekers

Autonomous Landing

V/W bands Missile tracking

40 GHz 200 GHz SAR/GMTI

(W-band nominal 94 GHz) Active Denial System

Automotive
How is Radar regulated?
Radar Spectrum Engineering Criteria (RSEC)

Based on International treaty and refined in US implementation regulations

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Recommendation SM.1541-2
Unwanted emissions in the out-of-band domain, Annex 8
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Manual
Chapter 5.5

RSEC is a relaxation of conventional out-of-band limits, since radar is uniquely

different from other radio services
Balance between operational effectiveness of radar and potential for
interference to adjacent band services

Failure to conform with RSEC can lead to:

Denial to operate the radar internationally and/or domestically
Operational restrictions on the use of a radar internationally and/or domestically
Current RSEC Definitions
Criteria A Exempt Power < 1kW
Criteria B 1kW < Power < 100kW, and 2.9 GHz < Frequency < 40 GHz
Criteria C All the rest
Criteria D Fixed and 2.7GHz < Frequency < 2.9GHz
Criteria E Wind Profiler Radar operating at 449 MHz

20

t = 1.0 s
0 tr = 0.05 s
PRR = 1000 PPS Average
Pp = 90 dBm (1 MW)
-20

-40
Criteria B

-60
Criteria C

-80
Criteria D

-100
-150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150
Radar Trends

Evolving Requirement Technological Solution

Multifunction Systems: Electronic Support, Wider operating bandwidth, including

Electronic Attack, Electronic Protection, operation across multiple bands
Communications
Greater resolution and accuracy, Target Wider instantaneous bandwidth
Identification, Low Probability of Intercept

Detect smaller targets at longer ranges Higher Power

Operate through foliage, buildings, and even Lower Frequencies

the ground

Put radar on smaller platforms and do more Higher Frequencies

things with it
Summary
Radar is fundamentally different than most other radio services
Used to collect rather than communicate information
Does not share well with other radio services

Radar supports a wide variety of missions

Aviation
Defense
Public Safety
Environment

Radar is not a consumer good so its off most peoples radar

Typically the domain of governments, since its a public good

Radar has diverse and growing spectrum needs