Ground clutter suppression and runway imaging via radar ground mapping
A radar system includes an AESA and at least one ground mapping linear array that operate on a separate receive channel and send I/Q digital terrain mapping data to a radar processing unit. The linear arrays provide constant ground mapping. The AESA may have more than one panel. Panels may be arranged as a chevron with the linear arrays disposed at the periphery. The AESA and linear arrays may be configured as a radar interferometer for track location and/or geolocation. The linear arrays may be configured as near field probes for insitu calibration.
1 . A radar antenna comprising:
at least one active electronically scanned array (AESA) panel; and
at least two linear arrays disposed along edges of the AESA panel,
wherein each linear array is configured to generate a fixed-elevation ground-mapping fan beam having a cosecant squared (CSC 2 ) azimuth profile, and the at least two linear arrays are oriented such that their respective ground-mapping fan beams are at least partially overlapped in elevation to provide continuous near-ground coverage.
2 . The radar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the at least one AESA panel and the at least two linear arrays are configured to operate in different channels.
3 . The radar antenna of claim 1 , further comprising a radar processing unit, wherein the radar processing unit configures at least one linear array to operate in a one dimensional monopulse mode.
4 . The radar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the at least one AESA panel and the at least two linear arrays comprise distinct regions of an electronically scanned array.
5 . The radar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the at least one AESA panel comprises two AESA panels disposed in a chevron configuration.
6 . The radar antenna of claim 5 , wherein the at least two linear arrays comprises four linear arrays, two disposed proximal to opposing edges of each AESA panel, and coincident linear arrays of each AESA panel disposed to produce the at least partially overlapping ground mapping fan beams.
7 . A radar system comprising:
a radar antenna comprising:
at least one active electronically scanned array (AESA) panel; and
at least two linear arrays disposed along edges of the AESA panel; and
at least one processor in data communication with a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:
drive the at least one AESA panel to produce a multimode main radar beam; and
drive the at least two linear arrays to produce ground mapping fan beams,
wherein each linear array is configured to generate a fixed-elevation ground-mapping fan beam having a cosecant squared (CSC 2 ) azimuth profile, and the at least two linear arrays are oriented such that their respective ground-mapping fan beams are at least partially overlapped in elevation to provide continuous near-ground coverage.
8 . The radar system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor configures the at least one AESA panel and the at least two linear arrays to operate in different channels.
9 . The radar system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one AESA panel comprises two AESA panels disposed in a chevron configuration.
10 . The radar system of claim 9 , wherein the at least two linear arrays comprise four linear arrays, two disposed proximal to opposing edges of each AESA panel, and coincident linear arrays of each AESA panel disposed and driven to produce the at least partially overlapping ground mapping fan beams.
11 . An aircraft comprising:
a radar antenna comprising:
at least one active electronically scanned array (AESA) panel; and
at least two linear arrays disposed along edges of the AESA panel; and
at least one processor in data communication with a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:
drive the at least one AESA panel to produce a multimode main radar beam; and
drive the at least two linear arrays to produce ground mapping fan beams,
wherein each linear array is configured to generate a fixed-elevation ground-mapping fan beam having a cosecant squared (CSC 2 ) azimuth profile, and the at least two linear arrays are oriented such that their respective ground-mapping fan beams are at least partially overlapped in elevation to provide continuous near-ground coverage.
12 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the at least two linear arrays each comprises an AESA, and the at least one processor electronically alters a shape of the ground mapping fan beam of each of the at least two linear arrays over time.
13 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor configures the at least one AESA panel and the at least two linear arrays to operate in different channels.
14 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the at least one AESA panel comprises two AESA panels disposed in a chevron configuration.
15 . The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the at least two linear arrays comprise four linear arrays, two disposed proximal to opposing edges of each AESA panel, and coincident linear arrays of each AESA panel disposed and driven to produce the at least partially overlapping ground mapping fan beams.