A fast ELINT receiver design

Today's electronic warfare (EW) systems require fast electronic intelligence (ELINT) to measure frequency parameters of radars and to scan predefined frequency bands for possible target radar emissions. Target radar signals are usually strictly time limited events and ELINT systems should be able to catch these emissions and categorize the source radar according to its threat library in a very short period of time. This study summaries traditional ELINT system properties and proposes a new fast ELINT receiver (FERX) with relatively less complexity. FERX is built on a modern direct digital synthesizer based superheterodyne receiver with reduced spur levels.