REVIEW OF THE STATE OF THE ART OF UK AESA
TECHNOLOGY AND THE FUTURE CHALLENGES FACED
Dr Stephen Moore*
* RadarLead~Dstl~UK.EMAIL:samoorel@dstl.gov.uk,
Keywords: AESA,MFR, radar, TRM, architecture, sub-
arrays.
Abstract
The UK Ministry of Defence is starting to introduce in to
service the next generation of radar technology. This
technology brings with it the potential for significant
improvements in performance for airborne~ ground based and
naval applications as well as benefits for through life
capability maintenance. However there are a number of
challenges facing the implementation of advanced radar
technology that can make these benefits difficult to realise. To
address these challenges~ the UK MoD is currently
undertaking a number of advanced research and technology
demonstration programmes aimed at in-service equipment
and future upgrade programmes. This paper summarises the
current state of UK MoD funded next generation radar
programmes and highlights the key challenges faced. These
challenges represent opportunities which the wider
community can address.
1 Introduction
The UK Ministry of Defence is starting to introduce in to
service the next generation of radar technology. The principal
radar technology being introduced is active electronically
scanned array (AESA) technology. This AESA technology is
likely to become the main form of UK radar technology in the
years to come.
Next generation radar technology is being introduced through
a number of platforms including: COBRA (ground based)~
SAMPSON (naval)~ and ASTOR (airborne). It is also the
subject of a number of key MoD technology demonstrator
programmes (TDPs): AMSAR~ CECAR (both airborne) and
ARTIST (naval). These radars will be briefly described in
Section 3 and 4. Section 2 will discuss the benefits of this
technology~ whilst Section 5 will highlight the challenges
faced and the opportunities that such technology can offer if
these challenges are addressed. Finally Section 6 will
summarise the UK position.
2 Benefits of AESA technology
AESA technology in land~ sea and airborne environments
brings a number of advantages over traditional mechanically
scanned radar systems.
1-4244-1539-X/08/$25.00 ©2008 IEEE
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The ability of AESA based radars to utilise rapid electronic
inertialess scanning allows fast reaction times. This enables
rapid scanning within the field of regard~ including intelligent~
random~ or adaptive search modes. It also facilitates rapid
track formation (through the use of rapid look-backs) and can
greatly increase track formation range over that of
mechanically scanned radar. These tracks can be highly
adaptive to permit high accuracy tracking of multiple~ fast
manoeuvring targets. With intelligent radar control~ a radar
system can utilise these tracking benefits to enable multiple
target engagement whilst maintaining other functionality.
These benefits of rapid electronic inertialess scanning result
in a more capable radar system that can out perform
mechanically scanned radar in both search and track modes.
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AESA technology also brings with it a more efficient method
of generating transmit power. For a given platform with
limited power available~ AESA technology can make best use
of that power and achieve longer detection ranges than an
equivalent mechanically scanned system. This increase in
efficiency is due to the introduction of a large number of
transmit / receive modules (TRMs) at the array face. These
TRMs each have an efficient power amplification stage~
rather than a centralised power amplifier and a power feed
network. Amplification in TRMs is typically through the use
of a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) power amplifier~ though future
systems may exploit Gallium Nitride or diamond technology.
The downside to use of many TRMs is that the cooling load is
greatly increased behind the array face~ often requiring a
mixture of air and liquid cooling (depending on power density
and available resources). This is less of a problem for surface
based radar systems, but represents a significant challenge for
airborne radars. In an airborne platform where the available
cooling and power is limited, AESA radar must be designed
to make best use of available resources. However given these
limitations in airborne platforms, it is still possible to design
AESA radar which can provide significantly higher transmit
power (both peak and mean) over a mechanically scanned
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radar solution.
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Figure 2 - Shipborne AESA benefits
The architecture of AESA radars can be designed to provide
multiple receive channels, facilitating a number of advanced
radar modes, including: adaptive beamforming (ABF) to
counter jamming (sidelobe and mainbeam) and space-time
adaptive processing (STAP) to remove clutter and to detect
and track slow moving air and ground targets. The challenge
is to optimise the number of channels to the required
performance of the radar and then to fully exploit these for
ABF, STAP and other advanced radar and non-radar modes
(e.g. the use of the radar as a high accuracy emitter locator).
The use of AESA radar for non-radar modes is an area of
increased interest for the UK. The radar is often situated in
the prime sensing location for a platform, therefore if the
technology can be adapted to provide a multi-function
aperture (MFA) solution, this can yield high performance
solutions for comms (e.g. provision of guidance messages to
weapons), emitter location, electronic surveillance, target
illumination, and bi- or multi-static modes.
AESA radars with advanced antenna architectures (multiple
channels) and designs (wide tuneable frequency range and
wide instantaneous bandwidths), state of the art TRMs (with
improved element control of amplitude, phase and transmitted
waveforms), and with advanced digital waveform generators
provide the user with a large number of parameters with
which to optimise the radar to improve performance in a
given scenario. This large trade space gives the ability for
levels of dwell and mode optimisation not previously
possible. The challenge is to intelligently optimise these
parameters and coordinate this through sophisticated sensor
control.
A final key benefit of AESA radar design is that it yields a
highly reliable radar. The large number of TRMs and the
design of the antenna architecture mean that the radar can
tolerate a significant number of TRM failures, with individual
TRM failures only marginally affecting antenna performance
(beamwidth, sidelobes, gain, TX/RX power). This graceful
degradation of antenna performance means that AESA radars
have a large mean time between critical failure (MTBCF).
New AESA radar concepts promise reliability levels
comparable to the platform lifetime - "fit and forget"
technology. This increase in reliability and MTBCF leads to
whole life cost savings which benefits through life capability
management (TLCM).
Figure 1 and Figure 2 summarise the key performance
benefits of AESA technology for airborne and shipborne
applications.
3 UK AESA radar
Next generation radar technology is only recently beginning
to be introduced in to UK forces in the surface and airborne
domains. The first AESA radars currently in or soon to be in-
service with UK forces are: COBRA (ground based),
SAMPSON (naval), and ASTOR (airborne).
This section briefly outlines these AESA radars, before
Section 4 goes on to discuss some of the research upon which
these systems are based and which is developing future
AESA radar systems.
3.1 Surface based AESA radar
COBRA and SAMPSON are two examples of the latest breed
of surface based phased array radars. They build upon
extensive UK and European funded research programmes and
represent world leading multi-function radars.
COBRA (Counter Battery Radar, Figure 3), built for the UK,
France and Germany by the EuroArt consortium comprising
Lockheed Martin, EADS (Germany), and Thales (France and
UK) is a ground based, highly mobile weapon location radar.
Figure 3 - COBRA (built by EuroArt consortium)
COBRA is currently in service with UK forces and
demonstrating the advantages of advanced radar technologies.
SAMPSON (Figure 4), built by BAE ~ystems Insyte, is a
shipborne multi-function radar which is part of the PAAMS
system for the new T45 ships the Royal Navy is procuring. It
provides both self and local area defence.
Figure 4 - SAMPSON MFR (built by BAE Systems Insyte),
part of the PAAMS system fitted to the Type 45 ship
SAMPSON is based upon MoD funded research and the
MESAR and MESAR2 TDPs and will shortly enter into
service.
3.2 Airborne AESA
There are currently few examples of airborne AESAs around
the world, with fully AESA based solutions only recently
being introduced.
ASTOR (Airborne Stand-Off Radar, Figure 5) is an airborne
ground surveillance system designed to provide detailed
information regarding the movement and disposition of
enemy forces. Its Dual-Mode Radar (DMR) is a large phased
array radar capable of Ground Moving Target Indication
(MTI) and high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
ground imaging modes.
Figure 5 - ASTOR aircraft (built by Raytheon Systems Ltd)
This platform will provide a step-change in performance over
previous solutions in its 1STAR role (Intelligence,
Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance).
ASTOR will soon be in-service with the Royal Air Force.
4 Current UK technology demonstrator and
research programmes
Current UK technology demonstrator and research
programmes are working hard to take the technology to the
next step and create truly multi-function AESA based radar
systems to meet the requirements of ground, sea and air
platforms.
These R&D programmes broadly fall into two categories:
surface based and airborne technology demonstrator
programmes (TDPs). These will be described in this Section,
before Section 5 goes on to discuss the challenges facing
these TDPs.
4.1 Surface based TDPs
ARTIST is a four year programme of UK/US collaboration
currently underway aiming to design and demonstrate the
next generation of surface based radar technology. Within the
UK it involves Dstl, BAE Systems Insyte, QinetiQ, and Roke
Manor Research; whilst in the US it involves the US Navy,
Lockheed Martin, MIT Lincoln Labs, and Johns Hopkins
University APL.
Figure 6 - UK ARTIST TDP (involves Dstl, BAE Systems
Insyte, QinetiQ, Roke Manor Research)
The ARTIST programme builds upon the highly successful
UK MESAR and MESAR2 TDPs (and other associated
research programmes) which previously de-risked key
technologies for the soon to be in service SAMPSON MFR
(e.g. ABF, RRM).
ARTIST is an advanced multiple sub-arrayed AESA MFR
which is addressing the key technology areas of: high fidelity
waveform generation, digital antenna processing, signal
processing, radar control, and sensor integration.
It is leveraging lessons learnt from previous UK and US
programmes (e.g. on COTS processing and open architecture
issues) to help with the de-risking of these key technology
areas. Technology developments from the UK part of this
programme are initially aimed at future upgrades to the
SAMPSON radar.
4.2 Airborne TDP's
The UK is currently involved in two key airborne TDPs
which are de-risking AESA technology for fast-jet
applications. These are the AMSAR and CECAR TDPs.
The AMSAR TDP is a UK, French and German collaboration
de-risking key technologies for a generic airborne fast-jet
platform (e.g. Typhoon or Rafale) through a series of ground
based trials and flight trials on a BAC 1-11. AMSAR
represents the first generation of European airborne AESA
technology and has led to a burgeoning AESA MFR
capability within UK, France and Germany.
Figure 7 - AMSAR (involves UK, French and German MoDs
and also SELEX SAS, Thales France and EADS Ulm)
AMSAR is a multiple sub-arrayed antenna which is
developing advanced adaptive beamforming (ABF) and
space-time adaptive processing (STAP) techniques as part of
the de-risking of advanced air-to-air modes.
The CECAR TDP is a second generation AESA TDP
between UK and Germany aimed at de-risking key
technologies for a possible future upgrade to the Typhoon
fast-jet platform. CECAR builds upon the significant
technical achievements of the AMSAR programme to address
Typhoon specific issues.
Figure 8 - CECAR on a BAC 1-11 trials aircraft (involves
UK and German MoDs and also SELEX SAS and EADS)
CECAR is de-risking advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground
radar modes through flight trials on a BAC 1-11. It is also de-
risking a possible future upgrade to Typhoon fast-jets through
detailed radar system design using representative hardware
and through integration, fit and trial on a Typhoon
development aircraft (Typhoon DA5).
5 Challenges for the future
The existing or soon to be in-service AESA radars described
in Section 3 and the TDPs described in Section 4 both face a
number of key challenges to enable capability maintenance in
a continually changing military environment. This need is
driven by through life capability management (TLCM) which
requires in its broadest sense the maintenance of both initial
operating capability as well as capability as the environment
changes beyond that originally envisaged (e.g. due to the
changing nature of the threat, a differing concept of
employment, or a more challenging environment).
These challenges are broadly similar in nature for both
surface based and airborne radars due to the similarities in
their basic technologies and their approaches to solve the
problems faced (though of course there remain fundamental
differences in the implementation of any solutions and in the
nature of the environment in which they operate).
Figure 9 - Generic shipborne AESA architecture
The similarities between surface based and airborne radars
can be seen in the typical architecture designs shown in
Figure 9 and Figure 10 (as well as in Figure 1 and Figure 2).
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Figure 10 - Generic airborne AESA architecture
The challenges faced are described in the following sub-
sections.
5.1 Transmit / receive modules
As discussed earlier, AESA technology brings with it a more
efficient and robust method of generating transmit power (as
well as a lower receiver noise figure) through the use of many
parallel power amplification stages at the antenna within
TRMs. This can enable an AESA to make best use of the
limited power available on a given platform. The downside
being that the cooling load is greatly increased behind the
array face, often requiring a mixture of air and liquid cooling
(depending on power density and available resources).
 Tracked
There are a number of challenges facing the design of these Ta~
TRMs (see Figure 11 for an example of a TRM). There are
the continual challenges of reducing the size, weight,
complexity and cost of TRMs. There are also a number of
other challenges to improve the efficiency, increase the peak
and mean output power, reduce the receive noise figure,
increase the instantaneous and tuneable bandwidths. These
latter challenges are driving the design of the antenna
elements and the design of the power amplifier.

Figure 12 - Electronic counter counter measure (ECCM)

Beam
Steering
adaptive beamforming (ABF) capability of AESAs
Computer

Very high levels of digitisation (see Figure 13) remain

challenging on both a cost and technical implementation
level.
Elements in Array Face

Designing an antenna element that can meet the requirem.ent

of a wide tuneable bandwidth whilst being able to transmIt a
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wide instantaneous bandwidth (e.g. for high resolution I ..

imaging or air target recognition modes) is difficult and

challenging. Within the UK, research is continuing to develop
and improve antenna element design to meet these stressing
design goals (hand in hand of course with radome design).

Power amplification within TRM is typically through the use

of a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) power amplifier. Research is
continuing to improve their design, efficiency and power
Figure 13 - Increasing levels of digitisation and ECCM
amplification capabilities. However future systems may well
exploit Gallium Nitride (GaN) or diamond technology. to
Exploiting high levels of digitisation is also challenging.
yield a step change in performance of TRMs. To de-fIsk
Research is continuing, aiming at further developing ABF,
future TRM designs, the UK MoD is initially investing in
STAP and GMTI techniques as well as looking at other ways
GaN technology through the European KORRIGAN
this advanced AESA radar capability can be exploited for
programme.
other modes / techniques.
5.2 Multiple channels
5.3 Multi-function aperture concepts
The UK is actively researching multiple channel AESA radar
The UK, in common with many other nations, is beginning to
for applications to ground based, naval and airborne
become interested in looking at other ways advanced AESA
platforms. This technology can provide the enhanced
radar technology can be exploited.
performance and functionality needed to meet the UK's future
requirements.
Typically radars (by definition a high gain RF device) occupy
a prime location on a platform. It is possible that this prime
Higher levels of array digitisation can result in multiple sub-
location and advanced RF functionality may be able to be
arrays which can yield multiple channels and/or degre~s. of
exploited for a number of other functions, including
freedom (depending on the nature of the RF and dIgItal
communications, passive surveillance, or possibly active RF
combination network). These can be exploited to give a radar
applications (maybe in a return to the UK's 1935 Daventry
an advanced electronic counter counter measure (ECCM)
experiment!).
capability against multiple advanced jamming sources (within
both the sidelobe and main beam - see Figure 12), advanced
The field of multi-function aperture concept research is
STAP modes, and for airborne radars, improved ground
however currently still in its infancy. Whilst a challenging
moving target indication (GMTI).
area, it offers the promise of much more flexible sensor
solutions which can yield significant military utility and offer
Research is continuing within the UK to improve the design
increased performance for a number of complementary RF
and technology readiness level (TRL) of radars with high
levels of digitisation.
modes. Instigating research and development in this emerging
area represents an interesting opportunity.
5.4 Intelligent radar control
The next generation of AESAs must fully harness their multi-
function benefits through the use of next generation radar task
schedulers and mode optimisation - Le. intelligent radar
control (IRM).
Current and future AESA radar systems have (or will have)
significant multi-parameter diversity (e.g. in transmit
frequency, waveforms, transmit power, beamwidth, antenna
pattern optimisation / adaptation, mode interleaving etc)
which allow a radar to be dynamically optimised for a wide
range of scenarios (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 for examples).
This optimisation requires an efficient radar resource manager
(RRM) working with a sensor, platform and force resource
manager / mission planner to fully exploit the maximum
potential that such AESA technology offers.
Without such intelligent radar control, the many benefits that
AESA offers will be difficult to realise.
The UK MoD is continuing its active research into RRM /
IRM for both surface based and airborne AESA radar
applications. However there remains need still for significant
further development of advanced techniques and work is
continuing to look at new methods and algorithms.
5.5 Ground moving target engagement
Finally, as research continues on air-to-ground targeting from
airborne platforms, there remains the key challenge of ground
moving target engagement (GMTE). This encompasses:
moving target indication, detection, tracking, geolocation,
recognition, collateral damage assessment, engagement and
finally battle damage assessment - Le. all stages required to
successfully engage a moving ground target from an airborne
platform.
GMTE is a mode specific to airborne platforms designed to
attack moving targets. It is a technically challenging mode
which can benefit greatly from the benefits_ that advanced
AESA radars can bring (e.g. STAP, GMTI, advancing
tracking, high resolution imaging modes, flexible
employment) as well as the benefits of networked operation
(outside the scope of this paper).
The challenge of GMTE is included in this paper as an
example of a capability requirement that is technically
difficult and which relies upon the previous challenges to be
addressed. Further R&D is vital in this area.
6 Summary
This paper has summarised the current UK state of art in
AESA radar systems technology, the research underway to
further advance it, and the challenges faced in the future.
The driving challenge remains the ability to enable capability
maintenance in a continually changing military environment.
This need is driven by through life capability management
(TLCM) which requires in its broadest sense the maintenance
of both initial operating capability as well as capability as the
environment changes beyond that originally envisaged (e.g.
due to the changing nature of the threat, a differing concept of
employment, or a more challenging environment).
To address this radar TLCM challenge, given the important
role radar will retain as a key means of day / night all weather
long range surveillance and targeting, the UK must continue
to actively pursue advanced radar research and development
A key enabler to tackle radar TLCM is advanced AESA radar
system design. Radars with high reliabilities, multiple
parameter diversity and high levels of digitisation offer the
potential to greatly increase radar longevity. These degrees of
adaptability / flexibility can be exploited by algorithms and
techniques produced by future research programmes to
maintain performance against a changing threat, method of
employment or a more challenging environment. High
reliability (Le. high MTBCF) means that the main radar
hardware becomes effectively "fit and forget", with hardware
upgrades restricted to mission computing upgrades to combat
obsolescence and to exploit newly developed algorithms and
techniques to make better use of the inherent radar
capabilities. Such a solution provides significant cost savings,
performance advantages, and opportunities to exploit.
Whilst the AESA radar programmes discussed face a number
of challenges, the technologies to face these challenges also
present a number of opportunities to provide a step change in
military capability. These opportunities can be realised
through exploitation of recent and planned advances in AESA
radar technology and through the optimal and intelligent
usage of the many degrees of adaptation these systems offer
to tune a radar systems capability to maximise performance in
a given role/mode.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge all of the extensive research and
development, both MoD and industry funded, that is
referenced within this paper. Without the efforts of the many
UK and international companies and individuals involved,
these programmes would not have achieved their many
successes. It is through the continued efforts of these people
that we can continue this success and address the challenges
discussed within this paper.
References
UK MoD Defence White Paper 2003 "Delivering Security in
a Changing World" (2003)
UK MoD "Defence Industrial Strategy" (Dec 2005)
UK MoD "Defence Technology Strategy" (Nov 2006)