Systems considerations for large percent-bandwidth radar

Several new terms denoting new types of radar waveforms (e.g. impulse, nonsinusoidal, monocycle, baseband, and ultra-wideband) have recently emerged. The author attempts to set all of these waveform types in a consistent perspective and to assess the potential performance available from each. The perspective chosen for the waveform cataloging process is the measure of carrier cycles per pulse, or, alternatively, the percent bandwidth. This approach allows all the waveform types to be viewed on the single-parameter scale of percent bandwidth. The potential performance advantages (or disadvantages) of each waveform are discussed in terms of basic radar performance criteria: target detection, target imaging/identification, clutter rejection, and the influence of interference and the propagation medium. These characteristics are reviewed for each of the waveform cases and the relative merits of each are discussed with the intent of discovering which of these capabilities would require a large percent-bandwidth waveform. Implications for unusual component requirements are also addressed.<>