A hybrid partitioning architecture for ADBF in monopulse arrays

One of the limitations in implementing adaptive digital beamforming (ADBF) systems is the cost associated with a large number of receiver channels. A monopulse radar can further increase cost by demanding channels for difference as well as sum beams. Conventional three channel monopulse can require a receiver for each of the sum and two difference channels at each subarray. In a large phased-array radar this can be cost prohibitive. This paper introduces a hybrid array architecture that maintains quiescent monopulse performance while reducing the number of receivers by as much as 40% by using common receivers for the sum and difference patterns. Examples of the performance for this hybrid architecture are shown.