Cued medium-PRF air-to-air radar using stretch range compression

A medium PRF air-to-air radar testbed was built and flight tested in encounters involving low-flying airborne targets. This radar operated in the Ku-band and employed a linear-FM waveform with analog-dechirp ("stretch") range compression. A digital arbitrary waveform generator was used to generate the waveform and direct IF-to-digital conversion was employed in the receiver. High range compression ratios were achieved using commercial low-cost, high dynamic range A/D converters. Look-down flight test data was obtained on a Lear jet, a helicopter, ground moving targets and several types of clutter. The test program demonstrated the viability of high duty factors, high pulse compression ratios and stretch processing in a medium PRF air-to-air radar, particularly if cuing to the target's approximate range and velocity is available.