A real-time diagnostic tool for phased array antenna systems

The monitoring of a phased-array antenna during its operative life-cycle is a very demanding skill on modern radar systems. The diagnostic tool proposed here is constituted by an external probe based on slotted-coaxial cable technology. The probe is located in close proximity to a phased array antenna providing a built-in integral monitor embedded in the system. A suitable arrangement of the slotted cable has been found in order to produce a “synthetic far-field” that can be used for diagnostic purposes to track sharply eventual failures occurring on the system. A failure alarm is generated whenever the variation on the measured signals exceeds the tolerances. During the monitoring task the system can be left running its operative schedule known in advance. The tool has been successfully tested and integrated on the radar-head of a secondary surveillance system developed recently by Selex-ES.