A remote active T/R module using electro-optic true-time-delay line for X-band radars

X-band Radar (XBR) is the primary fire control sensor, providing surveillance, acquisition, tracking, discrimination, fire control support and kill assessment for NMD systems. Crystal Research, Inc. (CRI) proposes a remote active T/R module using electro-optic true-time-delay line for X-band radars. Unlike any existing approaches, the unique feature of the proposed device is that a large number of different time-delayed signals can be generated simultaneously at a single output end based on innovative electro-optic Bragg gratings in a single-mode optical fiber. Another unique feature of proposed devices is the low signal propagation loss per unit length. This property makes the proposed device idea for remoting the transmitter/receiver (T/R) module in an XBR, which could have an antenna area of 123 square meters. The proposed device is particularly well-suited for remoting active arrays because it allows placement of each T/R module's receiver and exciter in any location of interest, where constrains of the size and weight can be significantly relaxed. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the advantages and feasibility of the proposed concept by designing and fabricating a remote active (T/R) module using electro-optic true-time-delay line for X-band radars.