Modern wideband DRFM architecture and real-time DSP capabilities for radar test and evaluation

Abstract

Developments over the past decade in technology such as high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADC), digital-toanalog converters (DAC) and field-programmable-gate-arrays (FPGA) contributed to the simplification of the hardware design of wideband digital radio frequency memories (DRFM). The progression in FPGA technology enabled the implementation of real-time wideband digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms for test and evaluation of present-day radars.

Electronic countermeasure for OFDM‐based imaging passive radars

“…RCS fluctuations can be implemented digitally, exploiting predefined target models and high update rates (even pulse‐to‐pulse). If dealing with complex targets and high‐resolution radars, the echo of each scatterer of the target model can be independently controlled in range, amplitude, phase and Doppler shift [24].…”

“…Looking at current state‐of‐the art DRFMs specifications, they exhibit a typical instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) value up to 2 GHz, ADC, and DAC resolutions respectively of 10 and 12 bits, range delay resolution <1 ns and typical latency values <100 ns [24, 25]. The wide available IBW is able to guarantee the simulation of agile wideband radar signals, while the reduced range delay resolution and system latency make a very quick response time possible.…”

“…Finally, it is worth noting that each simulated false target delay time has been chosen to be compliant with the typical latency time of current available DRFM devices (i.e. : 100 ns [24, 25]).…”

Parameter estimation and suppression for DRFM‐based interrupted sampling repeater jammer

“…According to Olivier and Gouws [21], the current state‐of‐the‐art DRFM performance is around 2 GHz instantaneous bandwidth with 10–12 bits of analogue‐to‐digital converter (ADC) and digital‐to‐analogue converter sampling at 5 GHz. Thus, the jammer can accurately sample the radar‐transmitting signal at the Nyquist sampling rate and forward the signal with little distortion.…”

Improved Interrupted Sampling Repeater Jamming based on DRFM

“…The frequency-shifting deceptive jamming to linear frequency modulation pulse compression radars explain the forward and backward shifting false targets caused by the frequency shifting on the view of group delay [5,6]. With the DRFM technique, the designer can configure and control the parameters such as range delay, Doppler, phase and amplitude [7].…”