DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

Øyvind Thingsrud
FFI – Norwegian Defence Research Establishment
Division for Information Management
P.O. Box 25, NO-2027 Kjeller
Norway
oyvind.thingsrud@ffi.no

ABSTRACT
The Digital RF Memory (DRFM) is a key component in modern radar jamming systems. To introduce
false targets in a High-Range-Resolution (HRR) radar and other high-resolution imaging radars, a new
generation DRFM-system is being developed with far better range resolution and modulation properties.
The DRFM also needs better performance in the D/A-converter than in the systems used today, because of
the high fidelity jamming signal. This paper is a part of a Master thesis [6] and describes a new type of
DRFM-modulator that uses digital signal processing in the frequency-domain for generation of false
targets [1]. The modulator is able to produce a radar scene with a number of complex false targets
constructed of many single reflectors with individual modulation and with a credible background. Some of
the different strategies for the modulator topology will be introduced and discussed. The modulator is
being implemented using parallel digital logic in a number of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)
on a single printed circuit board (PCB) for use in FFIs experimental radar jammer named EKKO II [4].

1.0 BACKGROUND
High-resolution imaging radar is of increasing importance in numerous tasks, both civilian and military.
This has resulted in a requirement for research on Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) against this class of
radar. Over the last five years one main task in a research program at FFI has been to demonstrate the
capability of introducing false information in a controlled, programmable manner in high-resolution radars
of various kinds [2]. The work has included theoretical studies, computer modelling, field tests using
existing hardware, and development of a whole new system, named EKKO II, designed with the above
mentioned task in mind. Figure 1 shows the EKKO II system in X-band configuration.

Figure 1: EKKO II in X-band configuration

Paper presented at the RTO SET Symposium on “Target Identification and Recognition Using RF Systems”,
held in Oslo, Norway, 11-13 October 2004, and published in RTO-MP-SET-080.

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2.0 PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED

In the EKKO II experimental radar jammer the synthesis of false targets are realised with direct
modulation and are implemented in FGPA. Direct modulation is a method where range delay, frequency
and amplitude changes for each false point scatterer are generated in dedicated digital branches, as an
imitation of the physical reflection process in the nature. This method is easy to understand and
synthesises credible targets, but the hardware complexity increases as the number of targets increases.

Thus, new methods for synthesising false targets that are independent of the number of targets are of
interest. This paper describes a new type of DRFM-modulator that uses digital signal processing in the
frequency-domain. The method is sketched in [1] and presents a possibility to achieve large numbers of
false targets without an increasing hardware complexity.

The new DRFM-modulator should produce a radar scene with a number of complex false targets
constructed of many single reflectors with individual modulation and with a credible background. The
modulator is to be used for synthesis of high-resolution range profiles, as illustrated in Figure 2 and for
synthesis of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) / Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) images.

Figure 2 contains a SAR image of a cultivated landscape that is overlaid a high-resolution range profile.
For synthesising a SAR scene, new high-resolution range profiles with different appearance have to be
generated continuously.

Antenna beam
line of sight

Antenna
aperture angle

High-
resolution
range
profile

Figure 2: SAR image of cultivated landscape with high-resolution range profile drawn

3.0 INTRODUCTION
A system designed to present false credible information in an arbitrary high-resolution radar system
should be designed as a repeater that is able to store the radar signal, for modulation and retransmission.
The central component of such a system is the storage device, the Digital Radio Frequency Memory
(DRFM), ref Figure 3.

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 DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

Receiver DRFM-system Transmitter

antenna antenna
LO

I High speed I
A/D dual-port D/A
Q memory Q
Amplifier

Figure 3: A DRFM radar jamming system

The retransmission of a perfect replica of the radar signal will generate a point target response in the radar.
To generate false credible information in a high-resolution radar image though, a target or a scene with
spatial extent must be created. Basically this can be done in the time-domain by a digital Finite Impulse
Response (FIR) filter [3], shown in Figure 4.

xn FIR yn
DIGITAL FILTE R

N
yn = ∑ xn hn − k
k =1

Figure 4: A digital FIR-filter

If the radar signal is the input sequence xn and the point targets are the filter coefficients in the impulse
response hn , the output sequence yn is the convolution between sequence xn and hn . Sequence yn is then the
desired jamming signal.

The structure in Figure 5 is a parallel realisation of a digital FIR-filter, where the branches with filter
coefficients equal to zero are omitted. Here, the output sequence is generated by adding a number of radar
signal replicas, each with individual modulation in time, amplitude and phase. This capability is made
possible by modern high-speed digital electronics using multiple Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)
circuits. Figure 5 illustrates the parallel time-domain realisation.

A1ejΦ1

τ 1

A2ejΦ2

τ 2

Radar Radar
Tx ANejΦN Rx

τ N

Figure 5: Time-domain realisation of time overlapping radar replicas

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DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

Alternatively the convolution between the radar signal and the point targets can be calculated using the
Fast Convolution Process (FCP) algorithm, which make use of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)
implementation of the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). The FCP-convolution is much more efficient
with respect to computational requirements than the standard convolution, especially with long sequence
lengths, ref [5].

Table 1 shows a computational comparison of number of additions and multiplications for FCP-
convolution versus standard convolution. N is the length of the two sequences and L is a legal FFT size
(L=2m, where m is an integer) that is greater or equal to N1+N2-1, where N1 and N2 are the two sequences.

Table 1: Computational comparison for FCP-convolution versus standard convolution

# Complex additions # Complex multiplications

Standard convolution (N-1)2 N2

FCP-convolution 3Llog2L 3L/2log2L+L

Figure 6 gives a graphical illustration of the equations in Table 1 for some data set sizes of N.

# Complex additions # Complex multiplications

1E10 1E10

1E8 1E8

1E6 1E6

1E4 1E4

1E2 1E2

1E0 1E0

N=65536 N=65536
N=16384 N=16384
N=4096 N=4096
N=1024 N=1024
N=256 std. conv N=256 std. conv
FCP-conv FCP-conv

Figure 6: Graphical illustration of the computational loads from Table 1

Using FCP-convolution the total response can be computed fast and directly, rather than implementing the
individual delays and modulations in hardware. This can be done by transforming the radar signal and the
targets to the frequency-domain, performing calculations, and transforming the combination back to the
time-domain. This concept is referred to as Computed ECM in [1].

There is a potential for achieving a considerably higher number of radar resolution cells using this
approach. Whereas in the direct time-domain implementation the number of targets or resolution cells
achieved is limited by the space within the FPGAs, in the Computed ECM case the limiting factors are

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 DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

system dynamic range, number of sampling bits, calculation speed etc. This is a planned future capability
for the EKKO II radar jammer [4]. Figure 7 illustrates the concept of the frequency-domain realisation.

FFT

Radar IFFT
Tx

Range FFT Radar

profile Rx

Figure 7: Frequency-domain realisation of time overlapping radar replicas

The advantage of frequency-domain realisation is that the jammers complexity is nearly constant with
increasing number of targets in the jamming scene. On the other hand, the complexity does increase with
increasing number of samples in the radar signal and with increasing size of the radar scene.

4.0 COMPUTER MODEL

To examine the proposed DRFM-modulator structures, a computer model of the modulator, the target and
the high-resolution radar is used. Figure 8 gives a brief description of the simplified computer model.

Pulse reflection
parameters

Radar TX: DRFM: Radar RX: Range

Waveform Modulation Pulse compression
generation module module module
Profile

Generates reference Digitises and modulates Performs pulse compression

radar signal with the radar signal in and generate range profiles
arbitrary waveform time, phase and amplitude

Figure 8: Schematic description of the computer model

Figure 9 gives an example of a HRR profile generated in the computer model. An aircraft with marked
reflection points in red is illuminated from a selected angle and with a chosen waveform. In this case the
pulse compression leads to range cell size of approximately 4 samples and a total of 125 range cells over
the aircraft. Different compression waveforms and factors are supported.

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DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

Figure 9: Example of a HRR range profile generated in the computer model

In this paper the computer model is configured with a simplified complex reference target constructed of
twelve single point reflectors. Each of the reflectors has different position, amplitude and phase. A chirp
radar signal with Time-Bandwidth product (TBW) of 127 is then applied to the modulator and the jamming
signal is calculated. The last step in the computer model is the pulse compression stage and the generation
of the HRR range profiles. Figure 10 shows the simplified complex reference target.
R e fe r e n c e ra n g e p r o fi l e - 1 2 s p e c u l a r r e fl e c t o r s
5
0
-5
-1 0
Relative power [dB]

-1 5
-2 0
-2 5
-3 0
-3 5
-4 0
-4 5

5 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 5 0 0
S a m p le n o

Figure 10: The simplified complex reference target with twelve single point reflectors

For verification of the proposed realisation concepts, the modulator structures and their corresponding
range profiles from the computer model are compared and discussed.

5.0 PROPOSED CONCEPTS FOR FREQUENCY-DOMAIN DRFM-

MODULATOR REALISATIONS
The following DRFM-modulator realisation concepts are developed for generation of credible targets on
HRR-radar, but the conclusions will also be valid for the more advanced SAR and ISAR as well, since a
lot of the fundamentals are common to all imaging radars.

The goal for the development is a modulator design with minimum insertion delay and maximum
coverage in range. It is desirable to synthesise the complex reflections from each of the targets, and to
manage the generation of the background scene. The acceptable values for insertion delay and range

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 DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

coverage are strongly dependent of the actual radar system. Since the modulator is planned used against
different type of radars, the modulator design will make use of the reconfigurable structure of the FPGA.

5.1 FCP-convolution structure

A single FCP-convolution structure is the simplest modulator realisation found using frequency-domain.
This structure has however limited throughput and will introduce some delay in the signal flow through
the modulator. The throughput is dependent of the implementation of the FFT and the inverse FFT (IFFT),
which can be supplied as Intellectual Property (IP) cores from for example the FPGA manufacturer.
Xilinx CoreGen IP-library supports FFT / IFFT up to 16384 data points at ~170 MHz clock speeds.
Specialised manufactures deliver state of the art pipeline IP-cores for high performance transformations
for more than 131072 data points at 400 MHz clock rate.

When using FCP-convolution, the length of the FFT transforms i.e. the number of data points in the
transform, determine the range extent of the covered scene since the FFT length equals the sum of the
number of samples in the radar signal and the covered scene. The available calculation time is usually
equal to the radar’s Pulse Repetition Interval (PRI), but it varies depending of the actual radar system.

Figure 11 shows a simplified schematic for a modulator using a single FCP-convolution.

Re
I IN
COMP LE X
FFT Im
Q IN

BAS E BAND
Re
I OUT
COMP LE X COMP LE X
Im IFFT
MULTIP LIE R Q OUT

BAS E BAND
I Re
hn COMP LE X
Q FFT Im

RANGE
P ROFILE

Figure 11: FCP-convolution realisation

The modulator structure is examined using the data model described in chapter 3.0. Figure 12 gives a
simulated HRR range profile of the simplified complex target. The range profile in Figure 12 is identical
to range profiles generated in the modulator using time-domain realisation.

C o m p u t e d r a n g e p r o fi l e - F C P c o n vo l u t i o n
5
0
-5
-1 0
Relative power [dB]

-1 5
-2 0
-2 5
-3 0
-3 5
-4 0
-4 5

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

S a m p le n o

Figure 12: Simulated HRR range profile after pulse compression of example target generated with FCP-
convolution

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DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

Figure 12 also shows that the pulse compression process generates side lobes at both shorter and longer
ranges than the targets reflectors. If the coded radar waveform had better performance on side lobe
suppression, the spurious signals in the range profile would have been lower.

5.2 FCP-convolution structure with separate synthesis of object and background

In some instances, a possibility for separate synthesis of object and background is preferable. Figure 13
shows a simplified schematic for a modulator that covers this approach. The complexity grows compared
to a modulator without separate synthesis, but the insertion delay is almost the same.

Re
I IN
COMP LE X
FFT Im
Q IN

BAS E BAND

Re
I OUT
COMP LE X COMP LE X
MULTIP LIE R Im IFFT Q OUT
I Re

hn COMP LE X BAS E BAND

Q FFT Im

OBJ E CTS
Re
RANGE
P ROFILE ADDE R
Im

I Re
hn COMP LE X
Q FFT Im

BACKGROUND
RANGE
P ROFILE

Figure 13: FCP-convolution realisation with separate synthesis of object and background

This modulator realisation is examined in the same manner as last structure by using the data model
described in chapter 3.0. Figure 14 shows the simulated high-resolution range profile containing both the
simplified complex target and a background profile. The synthesised target is identical to the target in the
last structure and the generated background has a uniform and almost constant reflection level throughout
the range scene.

C o m p u t e d r a n g e p r o fi l e w i t h b a c k g r o u n d - F C P c o n vo l u t i o n
5
0
-5
-1 0
Relative power [dB]

-1 5
-2 0
-2 5
-3 0
-3 5
-4 0
-4 5

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

S a m p le n o

Figure 14: Simulated high-resolution range profile after pulse compression of example target generated with
FCP-convolution and separate synthesis of object and background

The background profile in Figure 14 is synthesised with an artificially ideal appearance for demonstration,
but with use of other reflection coefficients a credible background can be generated.

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5.3 Distributed FCP-convolution structures with parametric generator for background

profile
This structure is an example of a versatile, fast and complex modulator realisation. It contains several
parallel FCP-convolutions, for higher speed and less insertion delay, connected in a distributed
configuration for less complexity. The structure includes a parametric generator for the background
profile, which gives a high level description of the appearance over time (mean level, smoothness,
distribution, sample rate) throughout the range profile. Usually the background synthesis requires huge
amount of reflection coefficients, but with the parametric generator the requirements for configuration
data is greatly reduced.

The last feature included in the proposed structure is a set of dual-port memory circuits that separate the
high-speed convolution circuits and the modulation coefficient generation process. The circuit separation
makes it possible to update the modulation coefficients at a lower sample rate than the convolution-
processing rate. In some instances this reduction in update rate gives noticeable improvements. Figure 15
and Figure 16 show a simplified schematic for an extended modulator using multiple FCP-convolutions
and a parametric generator for background synthesis.

I IN
C O M P LE X
Q FFT
IN Re
B AS E B AN D
Im Re I
C O M P LE X C O M P LE X
Im IF F T Q
Re DU AL P O R T Re M U L TIP L IE R
ME MOR Y
Im Im
DU AL P O R T
ME MOR Y
I DE L AY
Re
hn Q
Im Re I
O B J E C TS I OUT
R ANG E C O M P LE X C O M P LE X ADDE R
Im IF F T Q
P R O F ILE Re DU AL P O R T Re M U L TIP L IE R Q OUT
R AN G E
ME MOR Y
P R O F ILE
Im Im B AS E B AND
S C H E DU LE R DU AL P O R T
B AC K G R O U ND FFT ME MOR Y
M E AN AN D
AM P LITU DE C O M B IN E R
B AC K G R O U ND DE L AY
AM P LITU DE B AC K G R O U N D I
Re
V AR IATIO N R AN G E
P R O F ILE Q
B AC K G R O U ND Im Re I
G E N E R ATIO N
AM P LITU DE C O M P LE X
C O M P LE X
DIS TR IB U TIO N Im IF F T Q
Re DU AL P O R T Re M U L TIP L IE R
B AC K G R O U ND ME MOR Y
TIM E Im Im
DU AL P O R T
P E R IO D
ME MOR Y

Figure 15: Distributed FCP-convolution realisation with parametric generator for background profile

Because of the separate synthesis of object and background, and the multiple convolution circuits, the
complexity increases a lot. Specially the Range profile scheduler, FFT and Combiner block grows, as seen
in Figure 16.

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DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

I Re Re
C O M P LE X Re
Q Im Im
FFT H (jω)
ADDE R Im
Re
C O NV O LU TIO N
Im
I Re #1
Q C O M P LE X Im
I FFT
R ANG E
hn P R O F ILE Re
Q Re
S C HE DU L E R Im
O B J E C TS
ADDE R Im H (jω)
R ANG E Re
P R O F IL E C O NV O LU TIO N
Im
#2
I Re
Q C O M P LE X Im
FFT

I Re
Q C O M P LE X Im
FFT

I Re
Q C O M P LE X Im
I FFT
R ANG E
hn Q
P R O F ILE
S C HE DU L E R
B AC K G R O U ND
R ANG E Re
P R O F IL E Re
Im
ADDE R Im H (jω)
I Re Re
C O M P LE X C O NV O LU TIO N
Q Im Im
FFT #N

Figure 16: Detail schematic of Range profile scheduler, FFT and Combiner in Figure 15

Figure 17 shows the simulated high-resolution range profile synthesised with the parametric background
generator. The generated background has sections with different mean reflective level and smoothness,
and some minor areas with highly reflective objects. In the middle of the range profile, a typical shadow
can be seen – an area with low reflection. Figure 17 demonstrates of the possibilities and versatility of the
parametric generator.

C o m p u t e d b a c k g r o u n d p r o fi l e - D i s t r i b u t e d F C P c o n vo l u t i o n s
5
0
-5
-1 0
Relative power [dB]

-1 5
-2 0
-2 5
-3 0
-3 5
-4 0
-4 5

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

S a m p le n o

Figure 17: Simulated high-resolution range profile after pulse compression of example background profile
generated with parametric generator

To illustrate how the parametric background generator can be used to synthesise credible landscape, a
SAR image is used with a high-resolution range profile drawn on top, ref Figure 2. For synthesising a
whole SAR scene, the background generator has to be supplied new parameters regularly.

5.4 Future developments

Input parameters for the proposed DRFM-modulator structures have been a radar waveform that has
relatively short duration in time and hence short extension in range, and a covered scene with long
extension in range. This is not always the case; sometimes the radar waveform has an extension in range
as long as the covered scene or even longer. To deal with this situation, the modulator structures have to

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 DRFM-Modulator for HRR-Jamming

be further developed. In the proposed structures only the covered scene is divided in different
convolutions, but maybe in the future both the radar waveform and the covered scene have to be divided in
individual convolutions.

6.0 DISCUSSION
A single FCP-convolution structure is the simplest modulator realisation and with large FFT/IFFT
transformations the covered scene can be large in range as well. On the other hand the processing speed
for large FFT/IFFT transformations is quite slow, which result in large insertion delay. Usually, the actual
requirements for processing time limits the available range extent of the false radar scene.

An FCP-convolution structure with separate synthesis of object and background is convenient, specially
when processing of the two are generated with different processing tools. Separate handling of object and
background lead to higher complexity, but not to larger insertion delay. All the other advantages and
disadvantages are inherited from the single FCP-convolution structure.

A distributed FCP-convolution structure with parametric generator for background profile is a complex
modulator realisation, but it will handle different radar systems and scenes very well. The structure is
unique since it generates a credible background profile based on only a parametric description of the
background.

7.0 CONCLUSION
All of the proposed structures are suitable for a DRFM modulator realisation, but they are dependent on
the actual radar system and the desired range coverage. A distributed FCP-convolution structure with
parametric generator for the background profile is the most general construction for different operations,
but also the most complex.

8.0 REFERENCES
[1] Saper R. H. and Dyck D.: A computed approach to electronic countermeasures for deception of high
resolution radar, RADAR’99, Brest, France, May 1999

[2] Høydal T. O.: Advanced Digital RF Memory (DRFM) Technologies - New Capabilities for
Intelligent Radar Electronic Countermeasures, ATEDS/SA Symposium and Exhibition, San Diego,
USA, March 2001

[3] Pace P.E., Fouts D.J., Ekestorm S. and Karow C.: Digital false-target image synthesiser for
countering ISAR, IEE Proc.-Radar and Sonar Navig., Vol. 149, No 5, Oct 2002

[4] Kristoffersen S. and Thingsrud Ø.: The EKKO II Synthetic Target Generator for Imaging Radar,
EUSAR 2004, Ulm, Germany, May 2004

[5] Stearns S. D. and Hush D. R.: Digital Signal Analysis, Prentice Hall, 1990

[6] Thingsrud Ø.: Syntetisk modellering av radarrefleksjoner i FPGA design – En studie av DRFM
modulatordesign for høyoppløselig radarjammer, Master thesis (in Norwegian), University of Oslo,
July 2004

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