AMSAR: a European active antenna radar programme

AMSAR is a tri-national programme being undertaken by GEC THOMSON DASA Airborne Radar (GTDAR EEIG, a joint venture set up by the above companies) and supported by the governments of France, UK and Germany. This active array antenna radar demonstrator programme includes the development of X-band transmit/receive modules based on European GaAs MMIC technology, a multiple channel receiver chain and real-time adaptive digital beamforming. These features will allow the demonstration of electronic scanning, multiple jammer cancellation, and environmentally reactive radar operation, all in real airborne conditions. The risks associated with the use of a new technology in an airborne environment are reduced by a progressive approach. In the first stage primary feasibility issues are being addressed in an antenna demonstrator. In the second stage, demonstration of a complete radar system with full real time functionality will be performed on a trials aircraft. Finally, experimental results are compared and integrated with a full system global simulation model to permit reliable prediction of operational characteristics.