An Overview of Radar Operation in the Presence of Diminishing Spectrum

Radar systems employ active illumination to receive and process energy reflected from targets of interest. All radar search for scaled, time-delayed replicas of a known transmit waveform. Among the distinguishing waveform parameters, center frequency and bandwidth are prominent: radar access to spectrum is critical in achieving effective system design and ensuring acceptable performance. The insatiable demand for spectrum by the commercial telephony and data service industry impacts radar's current and future use of noise-limited frequency and bandwidth. This article discusses some of the issues around radar's diminishing spectrum availability, including its reliance on spectrum, considerations for coexistence with other electronic systems, and potential options for future radar operation.