High-Speed Digital Radio with Frequency Modulation Capability

To address the Navy"s need for a high-speed, high-fidelity, reprogrammable kernel for use in digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) systems, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new High-Speed Digital Radio with Frequency Modulation Capability (DIGIRAD). DIGIRAD provides the ability to mislead an enemy"s radar systems by changing the apparent Doppler shift of a target, which suggests false target motion. DIGIRAD is based on a new design that specifically avoids the use of complex digital signal processing (DSP) techniques such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques which invariably create long latencies. The innovation in DIGIRAD will enable the system to sample an input RF signal at 2.4 GHz, and shift its frequency with better than 0.1 Hz resolution. Latency is<-60 dBc. DIGIRAD uses only commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, resulting in a low-cost and manufacturable system that meets the Navy"s requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of DIGIRAD through a combination of theory, simulation, and a laboratory prototype technology readiness level (TRL)-3. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a fully integrated prototype (TRL-4/-5) that meets all of the requirements.