Adaptive Distributed Aperture Radar Mainlobe Jammer Suppression

The mitigation of mainlobe jamming is essential to missile defense radar performance. Applied Radar is currently investigating distributed aperture and adaptive processing architectures that promise a new generation of advanced radar performance. Our proposed program will research the application of these distributed aperture radar techniques to determine the mainlobe jammer suppression possible with a range of distributed aperture geometries and radar waveform bandwidths. The integrated space-time processing of coherent multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) radar promises substantial mainlobe jammer suppression as well as the improved spatial resolution needed for midcourse discrimination of reentry vehicle targets in the presence of adversary ECM and clutter. It is important to realize that the processing burden of these new methods is substantial and, therefore, our investigations into advanced algorithm performance will include computational sizing estimates for several distributed aperture system architectures. The transition of the developed techniques into advanced array applications such as CG-X is facilitated by the use of an Open System Architecture framework that is being developed by our prime contractor partner. The application of this work to the SPEAR MDA radar system technology demonstrator is facilitated by currently existing teaming relationships with several technology companies.