Ubiquitous radar: an implementation concept

Contemporary signal processing combined with phased array technology using digital beamforming enables the development of an important new radar system class that provides a continuous and uninterrupted multifunction capability within a coverage volume. The central idea of ubiquitous radar is to "look everywhere all of the time". It requires the illumination of a wide coverage volume while continuously receiving signals from a "pincushion" of narrow beams filling the volume. There are no gaps either in coverage space or in time, so that all targets can be detected at the earliest time and tracks initiated. Conceptually, this technology can combine surveillance, tracking and weapons control. The paper summarizes and reviews a concept study for implementing ubiquitous radar.