Neets Module aS MODULE 18- RADAR PRINCIPLES CHAPTER 1 Radar Fundamentals ‘> Anelectronic system that uses reflected electromagnetic Radar energy to detect the presence and position of objects. invisible to the eye. ‘Defined in reference to true north, the horizontal plane, Target Position and the vertical plane. The angle between true north and the line of sight to the True Bearing target, measured in a clockwise direction in the horizontal plane. ‘>The angle between the horizontal plane and the line of sight, | Elevation Angle measured in the vertical plane. ‘+The distance from the radar site to the target Range measured along the line of sight. The concepts are illustrated in the figure. ‘= _Transmits a short burst of electromagnetic energy Pulse Type Radar ‘* Can be calculated by measuring the time required for a Range to any Target pulse to travel to a target and retum to the radar receiver and by dividing the elapsed time by 12.36 microseconds. eee Mininram Range range = (pulse width + recovery time) x 164 yards /microsecond * Depends on the CARRIER FREQUENCY, PEAK POWER, | Maximum Range PULSE-REPETITION FREQUENCY, and RECEIVER SENSITIVITY aa ‘+ The time between the beginning of one pulse and the Pulse Range beginning of the next pulse and is the reciprocal of pr. Echoes from targets that exceed of the radar system | Ambigous Retums and resuit in false range readings. ‘= The total energy contained in a pulse. Peak powers Peak Power of a Radar obtained by multiplying the maximum power level of a System pulse by the pulse with | | ——— Page 18-1Neets Module ‘+ Radar systems that detect only range and bearing ‘Two Dimensional Radar (20) ~ Radars that detect height as well as range and Three Dimensional bearing Radar (30) * Its abiliy to distinguish between targets that are very close | Target Resolution together. ‘* The ability to distinguish between two or more targets on the | Range Resolution ‘same bearing and is primarily dependent on the pulse width of the radar system, ‘+The ability of a radar to separate targets atthe same range —_| Bearing Resolution but different bearings. ‘* Affect the speed and direction of travel of electromagnetic ‘Atmospheric wavefronts traveling through the air. | Condition = Supplies the timing signals to coordinate the operation of the | Synchronizer entire system li = __ Generates electromagnetic energy in short, powerful pulses | Transmitter ‘Allows the same antenna to be used to both transmit and | Duplexer receive. I = Detects and ampifies the retum signals. Receiver I * Produces a visual indicationof the range and bearing ofthe | Indicator echo. = Routes the electromagnetic energy from the transmitter, ‘Antenna System) radiates it in a highly directional beam, receives any | returning echoes, and routes those echoes to the receiver. ‘> The systematic movement of a radar beam while searching | Scanning for or tracking a target = * The simplest type of scanning and is usually used in 2D ‘Stationary Lobe search radar. ‘Scanning * Two basic methods of scanning. Mechanical and Electronic ‘> Transmits a constant frequency and detects moving targets | Continous Wave by detecting the change in frequency caused by Method electromagnetic energy reflecting from a moving target. + Asignal that constantly changes in frequency around a Frequency Modulation fixed reference is used to detect stationary objects. Method + Uses short pulses of energy and relatively long listening Pulse Modulation times to accurately determine target range Method * Continuously scans a volume of space and provides initial | Search Radar detection of all targets. * Provides continuous range, bearing, and elevation data on | Track Radar ‘one or more specific targets + Aradar system that provides information used to guide a Guidance Radar missiletoahostiietamget. | Oe Page 18-2Neets Module Ce © Designed especially to meet the strict space and weight limitations that are necessary for ail aitbome equipment Airborne Radar ] the target. = The angle between true north and a line pointed directly at True Bearing object Measure of the ability of a radar system to determine the correct range, bearing, and, in some cases, height of an Radar Accuracy CHAPTER 2 Radar Subsystems ~ Often referred to as the “heart of the radar system because it controls and provides timing for the ‘operation of the entire system ‘Synchronizer (Timer and Keyer) i ‘The timing trigger pulses are generated in the transmitte ‘Self-Synchronized System + The timing trigger pulses are generated by a MASTER OSCILLATOR, which is usually ‘extemal to the transmitter Externally Synchronized System = Which may be a ‘SINEWAVE OSCILLATOR, an ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR, or a BLOCKING OSCILLATOR. ‘Master Oscillator ‘>The heart of the radar, & ‘must establish the zero time reference and the prf (pn). Free Running (astabie) For accurate ranging, the prr and its reciprocal, pulse-repetition time (prt), must not change between pulses ‘Stable in frequency ‘* To enable the radar to operate at different ranges. Frequency must be Variable ‘© Used for the basic timing device (master oscillator). ‘Sine-Wave Oscillator Synchronizer —— Page 18-3Neets Module Leen ee ee EEE! The master oscillator generally is an astable multivibrator Master Trigger (astable) Multivibrator ‘Synchronizer ‘A free-running, single-swing blocking oscillator is generally used as the master oscillator. ‘Single-Swing Blocking Oscillator ‘Synchronizer Controls the radar pulse width by ‘means of a rectangular de pulse (modulator pulse) of the required duration and amplitude. Radar Modulator Capable of generating rf pulses with very high peak power at frequencies ranging from 600 to 30,000 megahertz. Magnetron Oscillators Stores energy and forms pulses in the same circuit element. Line Pulsing Modulator Forms the pulse in the driver, the pulse is then amplified and applied to the modulator. Hard Tube Modulator Produces the short-duration, high- power, rf pulses of energy that are radiated into space by the antenna. Transmitter Controls the radar pulse, width and amplitude, Modulator ‘Amplify @ low-level pulse to the desired power level using a series of microwave amplifiers such as TRAVELING-WAVE Power Amplifier Transmitters TUBES or KLYSTRONS. A device that allows the same Duplexer aan antenna to both transmit and receive. Detects the very small target Receiver return echo and amplifies it to usable level for display on the indicator. Consists of a low-noise amplifier, a mixer, a local oscillator, an IF amplifier, a detector, and a video amplifier ‘Superheterodyne Receiver Condition in which the ‘magnetron fires randomly in an undesired, interfering mode during some pulse Mode Skipping (misfiring) Page 18-4Neets Module Cee EEE! times, but not in others. voltage modulator pulse that is applied to the magnetron. “= Condition in which the ‘Mode Shifting ‘magnetron changes from one ‘mode to another during pulse time. ‘>The make up of the high- Pulse Characteristics + To produce a faity uniform [Magnet magnetic field of the desired value over the interaction ‘space between the cathode ‘and plate of the magnetron ‘= Transfers the rf energy from ‘Output Coupling the magnetron to the output transmission line (coaxial ine or waveguide). ‘> Acts as an antenna radiating into | Probe Coupling the waveguide. for more stable operation of the ‘moving target indicator ‘> Developed because of the need | Power-Amplifier Transmitter band of transmitted frequencies because they are stable over a ‘wider frequency range ‘+ Used in radar systems with a wide | Crossed-Field Amplifier tubes housed in a resonant cavty and attachedto awavegude | system in some manner. ‘> Usually consist of tr tubes and atr__| Waveguide Duplexers radar systems. ‘Used as a duplexer in high-power | Hybrid Ring Duplexer CHAPTER 3 Radar Indicators and Antennas resents the information (video) from the radar receiver in a usable manner. | Page 18-5Neets Module ‘* The actual range of a target from the | Slant Range radar, whether on the ground, in the water, or in the air = These pulses ensure that the sweep | Triggering Timing Pulses on the repeater starts from its point of origin each time the radar transmits. Returning Echo © The echo, in rf form, is detected (converted to a video signal) by the radar j receiver and applied to the repeater. ~The angular sweep position ofa | Antenna Information plan position indicator (ppi) repeater must be synchronized to the angular position of the radar antenna to display target bearing (azimuth) information. Presents only the range to the target | A Scope and the relative strength of the echo. | + Two-dimensional presentation Range-Height indicator ting target range and attitude, > Wis a polar coordinate display ofthe | Plan Position Indicator area surrounding the radar platform = Develops pulses which synchronize | Gate Circuit the indicator with the transmitter ‘Converts mechanical bearing ‘Sweep Control Circuit information from the antenna into voltages which control sweep circuit azimuth | + Produces currents which defiect an | Sweep Generator Circuit electron beam across the crt ‘= Generator provides a gate which | Intensity Gate Generator unblanks the ort during sweep periods. V————————— — Page 18-6Neets Module Se ‘+ Ampiifies the video signal from the receiver and applies it to the crt intensity-modulating ‘element (control grid). Video Amplifier Produces all voltages needed to ‘operate the indicator. It also includes protective devices and metering circuits, Power Supply The best available device for displaying the two-dimensional relationship produced by radar coordinates. Cathode-Ray Tube ‘Often used to determine target range on an A-scope presentation Range Step Ge rator Produce a movable gate that measures range based on elapsed time and can be used on A-scope and ppi displays. Range-Gate Generator ‘= Produce fixed interval range marks that can be used to estimate the range to a detected target | Range-Marker Generator Usually directional antennas that radiate energy in a one directional lobe or beam. Radr Antennas ‘Spreads out as it travels and produces a pattern that is neither too sharp nor too directive. ‘Spherical Wavefront | Does not spread out because all of the wavefront moves forward in the same direction. Plane Wavefront Consists of two flat conducting sheets that meet at an angle to form comer. ‘Corner Reflector Antenna ‘consists of two or more half-wave dipole elements and a flat reflector. Broadside Array May be used to obtain directive radiation at microwave frequencies ‘May be used to feed energy into a parabolic dish. Horn Radiators Feedhorn CHAPTER 4 Radar System Maintenance ee Page 18-7Neets Module CE eee ‘Essential to maintain an efficient __| Transmitter Performance Checks radar system. The transmitter output must be monitored closely for both frequency and power. ‘Transmitter energy is distributed ‘Spectrum symmetrically over a band of frequencies known as the ‘> An important test instrument for Echo Box (resonant chamber) indicating the overall radar system | performance The length of time the echo box Expected Ring Time should ring under the particular conditions of the test. * One of the more important Ring Time measurements that can be performed with the echo box A good indication of overall Transmitter Output Power Measurements transmitter operation. ‘> Determine receiver sensitivity, Receiver Performance Check tr recovery time, and receiver bandwidth. ‘> Defined as the frequency spread __| Receiver Bandwidth between the half-power points on the receiver response curve. You usually measure receiver MINIMUM DISCERNIBLE SIGNAL (mds) sensitivity by measuring the using the pulse Page 18-8Neets Module ‘The time required forthe trtube to. | TR Recovery DEIONIZE after each transmitted pulse, ‘Not normally thought of as part of | Support System 7] the radar Three types of support system, Electrical Power, Dry Air, Liquid Cooling System Needed for electronic Dry Air equipment can be supplied by the ship's electronics dry-air system through an air control panel or from local dehydrators. Intended for emergency use in the event of the failure of the ‘central dry-air system Electronic Equipment Dehydrators Also include pressure gauges and switches, temperature gauges, and overtemperature switches. Liquid Goong System ‘One of the best mediums for cooling high-power components, ‘and, in many cases, the only ‘medium that may be used. | Distilled Water (Secondary Loop Liquid | Cooling System) Provides the initial source of cooling water and the secondary Joop transfers the heat load from the electronic equipment to the primary loop Primary Loop Liquid Cooling System ‘Other tpes of cooling system. ‘rir Conditioning and Gabinet Air Blowers May be produced by the high- voltage electronic equipment in radars Xray Emissions ‘Sources of X-rays. Magnetrons, Kiystrons, and Cathode-ray tubes Page 18-9