High-Speed, High-Fidelity, Reprogrammable Kernel for Use in Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) Systems and High-Speed Signal Digitization and Proce

Efforts to counter radar"s effectiveness include passive and active detection and deception techniques. Active radar deception techniques require accurate detection and characterization of the transmitted radar signals (time and spatial domains). Once identified as hostile, active deception includes broad or narrow bandwidth noise jamming to reduce detection range and signal retransmission techniques that induce target range, angular, and velocity errors. Modern active radar deception systems are typically called Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) systems that operate by digitizing the received signal and storing a coherent copy in memory that, when needed, is replicated and retransmitted. As digital electronics signal conversion, generation, and processing technologies advance, radar and DRFM designs are increasingly implemented in software/firmware using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) that, with high dynamic range RF frequency Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) and Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs), support rapid advances in radar waveforms and DRFM countermeasures. This proposal describes Trident"s approach to utilize the flexibility of our new Reconfigurable, Adaptive, Programmable, Tactical, Open Radar (RAPTOR) system as the compact operational prototype platform for a fully reprogrammable multi-channel DRFM kernel. Given RAPTOR"s maturity a prototype bench top test has been included during the Phase I to expedite a Phase II target system demonstration.