新的雷达性能测试方法(英文)

New Methodology of Radar Performance Measurement

A. Kononov1, J.D. Jung1, Y.C. Shin1

1: STX RadarSys. Co., Ltd., 418, Chungduk-ri, Gusung-eup, Yongin-si, Kyonggi-do, 449-915, South Korea

Abstract: This paper is intended to introduce a new methodology of advanced radar performance measurement. The methodology is based on measuring the performance parameters, which are integrated criteria of the fitness for mission and which take into account the dynamic nature of radar mission. The radar mission accomplishment probability and the radar mission accomplishment time are proposed a s such criteria.

The concept of a "super compact radar test range" is also introduced. This seems to be an adequate tool capable of simulating a near-real operating environment and evaluating the ability of radar to accomplish its mission. Keywords: phased array antenna, radar mission, radar performance measurement, target simulator, test range

1. Introduction

Modern and all the more future advanced radars are complex systems with multiple modes and employ phased array antennas and extensive signal and data processing. These radars often include a number of processing techniques that are becoming more and more sophisticated. For instance, operation of multifunction radar requires many adaptive features such as adaptive beamforming and waveforms selection, automatic multiple targets tracking in severe clutter and jamming environment.

The advanced adaptive radars bring a number of problems in the specification and measurement of their performance [1]. The specification of performance of an adaptive system is very difficult and it might not even be obvious what we should understand by "performance". A particular problem is that dynamic performance is very difficult to quantify and measure. Certainly, traditional “static” parameters, such as maximum detection range against a given target, resolution in range, angles, and velocity, track initiation range and so on do not adequately define the radar capabilities [1]. Thus, a very important aspect of advanced radar systems procurement is the methodology of specifying and measuring radar performance.

This paper is based on an idea that overall radar performance parameters should specify such values, which are the integrated quantitative measures of radar ability to perform its mission. The paper suggests that such parameters could be the radar mission accomplishment probability and radar mission accomplishment time. To estimate these parameters it is necessary to create real radar operational scenarios and to provide an accurate description and control of those conditions as well as their repeatability to permit an adequate statistical validation of radar performance.

The conventional technologies of radar acceptance do not meet all the critical requirements to testing conditions. This paper proposes the concept of a new radar-testing tool entitled “Super Compact Radar Test Range” that meets all those requirements and allows the evaluation of radar mission accomplishment parameters. The conceptual structure of the super compact radar test range and its advantages and disadvantages are also considered.

2. Conventional Technologies of Radar Testing The ability of the radar to meet its overall system performance specification should be evaluated by testing the entire system in a realistic operational environment. The basic goal of the test program is to estimate by measuring the radar performance parameters resulting from design and manufacturing and to relate them to the requirements imposed by the specification.

The accuracy of radar performance measurement is a subject of great importance because of the direct impact it has on the correctness of judgment for the conformity of the achieved radar performance within the requirements. In order to get a statistically adequate estimation of radar performance there must be ensured the possibility to repeat any specified operational scenario many times. Radar field-testing with live targets, clutter, weather, noise and deceptive jamming, and other interfering signals allows the creation of a true operational scenario. But actual field test conditions are extremely difficult to control, to describe accurately, as well as to ensure their repeatability to permit accurate statistical validation of radar performance. Also, field-testing is highly costly and time-consuming. Nevertheless, if some resources are available for field-testing it can be considered as an ”excellent tool” to validate radar operational readiness. Far-field testing with simulated targets and interfering signals can provide an excellent scenario repeatability. The main disadvantage of this approach is that it is extremely difficult to create real or near-real scenarios, f.e., to simulate realistic trajectories of moving targets.

It is expected [1], that mathematical modelling and computer simulation will become one of the important testing tools in advanced radar performance evaluation. The considerable disadvantage of this is that “the model of radar is evaluated” but not the given real radar in the real-world scenario. In authors’ opinion, computer modelling and simulation is a very powerful tool for radar