RADAR SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Introduction

1. Radar is the most common form of sensor available to commanders and it is

employed in every facet of modern warfare. It is necessary therefore to understand
how a radar systems work if they are to be countered with Electronic Warfare (EW).
This lesson looks at the basic components of a radar system and details the radar
terms and parameters used in their operation.

Pulse Radar Systems

2. A basic pulse radar system operates by transmitting pulses of electromagnetic

(EM) energy through an antenna. These pulses propagate as radio waves, they
reflected off a target and a very small amount of energy returns towards the radar
system.

3. The same antenna that was used to transmit the pulse will also capture the
returning pulse. The pulse radar’s receiver then detects them. By timing the
transmission and reception of the pulse, range can be calculated. Azimuth and
elevation angles are calculated from the position or orientation of the antenna.

4. It is important to note that the radar must not transmit at the same time that it
is receiving. If this were to happen, kilowatt (kW) or megawatt (MW) energy would
be directly fed into a very sensitive electronic circuit in the receiver, that normally
handles milliwatt (mW) or microwatt (µ W) signal levels. This would damage the
receiver circuits and damage the radar’s display.

Components of Pulse Radar

5. Figure 1 shows the basic components required by a pulse radar system. The
purpose of each component is described below:

Figure 1: A Basic Pulse Radar System

6. The Power Supply converts the primary power from the aircraft or
ground/sea/space-based system to the levels needed by each of the other
components.

1
7. The Synchroniser generates the timing pulses that are used to control the
number of radar pulses created in one second, or pulse repetition frequency (PRF)
measured in hertz (Hz), of the radar. The timing pulses are passed on to the
modulator, the radar receiver (or signal processor), and to the display.

a. A related term to PRF is the pulse repetition interval (PRI). This is the
time from the start of one pulse to the start of the next pulse.

b. The measurement is taken from the leading edges of successive

pulses. The basic unit for PRI is seconds.

c. PRF is the reciprocal of the PRI.

Figure: 2 PRI

8. The modulator is a power converter. It draws electrical energy from the power
supply and steps up the voltage many times. The modulator supplies the transmitter
with high-power direct current (dc) pulses of electrical energy, switching it on and off.
This controls the pulse width (PW).

a. PW can also be called pulse length (PL) or pulse duration (PD). PW is

given the Greek symbol τ (tau).

b. PW is related to the amount power that is contained in each radar

pulse.

c. PW directly affects the ability to discriminate between targets that are

close together (range resolution).

Figure 3: Pulse Width

d. The bandwidth of the pulse is approximately the reciprocal of the PW.

2
9. The transmitter converts the dc pulses into short, high power pulses of radio
frequency (RF) energy. Transmitters can either use amplifiers, where the pulse is
generated at a low level and amplified, or power oscillators, where the pulse is
generated at the required energy level.

10. The waveguide carries out the same role as the transmission line in a radio
communications system. It transfers RF energy from the transmitter to the antenna.
The need for waveguides are brought about because at frequencies above 3 GHz,
metal wires and cables are inefficient and cause excessive power losses for RF
energy. The solution is to use hollow metal tubes called waveguide to carry the RF
energy.

11. The Duplexer allows single antenna operation; it is used to protect the
receiver from high power transmissions entering directly from the transmitter. This is
achieved by switching antenna paths between the transmitter and the receiver.
Since the switching action must take place very quickly, the switch is electronic.

12. The purpose of the antenna is to focus and direct the RF energy into a beam
of the required shape for both transmission and reception. It may also determine the
polarisation of the transmitted pulse. The beam is scanned by moving the entire
antenna or by electronic means. Antennas come in many shapes and sizes,
depending on their uses.

13. The main purpose of the receiver is to amplify the very weak echoes. This is
achieved by mixing the incoming RF to a lower frequency, where the signal can be
amplified and filtered more easily. The amplified signal is applied to a detector,
which demodulates the RF signal into a video signal.

14. The Signal Processor amplifies and filters the target echoes to increase the
target echo signal level and suppress unwanted noise. The signal processor makes
the decision as to whether a target is present. It also calculates target range and
velocity.

15. The data processor stores the location of targets and smooths track
calculations. In some systems it is responsible for track-while-scan functions.

16. The display shows radar information in a usable form that may comprise
alphanumeric characters or symbols according to the use of the radar system.

Components of CW Radar

17. Unlike pulse radars, CW radars transmit continuously. Because the CW

transmitter is never silent, the receiver must be protected or isolated from the high-
power continuous transmission. This can achieved by isolating separate transmit
and receive antennas. Overall, CW radars are far simpler to construct than pulse
radars and have the following differences:

a. No synchroniser is needed.

b. No modulator is needed.

3
 c. No duplexer is needed.

d. Separate antennas for transmit and receive are needed.

e. Maximum power is transmitted continuously.

f. Because the transmission is continuous, CW radars cannot measure

range.

g. CW radars can measure the azimuth, elevation and velocity of targets

Summary

18. This lesson identified and described the basic components of a pulse radar
system and described the purpose of each component. Important related terms
include PRF and PW were also identified. CW radar differs from pulse radars in that
synchroniser, modulator or duplexers are not required. However, separate antennas
are required to accommodate the separate transmit and receive function. A basic
CW radar cannot measure range, however, modified CW radars can measure the
azimuth, elevation and velocity of targets.