Multi-Function Phased Array Radar for U.S. Civil-Sector Surveillance Needs

This paper is a concept study for possible future utilization of active electronically scanned (AES) radars to provide weather and aircraft surveillance functions in U.S. airspace. If transmit-receive element costs decrease sufficiently, multi-function AES radars might prove to be a cost effective alternative to current surveillance radars (WSR-88D, TDWR, ASR, ARSR) since the number of required radars would be reduced, and maintenance and logistics infrastructure would be consolidated. A radar configuration that provides terminal-area and long-range aircraft surveillance and weather measurement capability is described and a radar network design that replicates or exceeds current airspace coverage is presented. Key technology issues are examined, including transmit-receive elements, overlapped sub-arrays, the digital beamformer, and weather and aircraft post-processing algorithms. We conclude with a discussion of how such a radar network might integrate with next generation weather and aircraft surveillance architectures.