Active-electronically-scanned-array based radar system features

The European program AMSAR (airborne multi-role solid-state active array radar) undertaken by GTDAR (GEC Thomson Dasa Airborne Radar EEIG) under contract to the French Authorities acting on behalf of the French, German and United Kingdom Ministries of Defence, aims to demonstrate the capabilities of AESA (active electronically scanned array) based airborne radar systems. Among the impressive advantages of AESA technology are flexible antenna designs using TRMs (transmit-receive modules), small installation depth of antennas, and low RF (radio frequency) losses in the TRMs. On the basis of these features, new design principles for airborne radar systems can be realised. Thus it is possible to design multi-faceted arrays and to optimally adapt them to the operational requirements and the installation restrictions of the aircraft. Also, an AESA permits the flexible combination of TRMs to form sub-arrays for adaptive beam patterns on receive. The varied configuration possibilities for multi-faceted arrays and the resulting capabilities of such radar systems with active electronic scanning are briefly described. Finally, it is indicated, which capabilities of a multi-faceted array are planned to be demonstrated within the AMSAR programme.