Digital Beamforming (DBF) Array Technology for Multi-Mission Radar and Communication Applications

Digital Beamforming (DBF) technology offers several advantages to phased-array radar and communication systems over previous analog phase shifters including performance, versatility and cost. Previous array phase-shifter technology can be classified aseither fixed delay, employing switched delay lines, or variable delay, using ferrite phase shifters. The fixed-delay systems suffer from lack of versatility, whereas the variable-delay systems suffer from performance variations, such as over temperature.DBF eliminates these performance variations and allows the beams to be optimized for the application. It is not unreasonable to expect 30dB or better sidelobes from a DBF system and deep nulls can be steered for jam suppression. One other major advantageto DBF is that multiple simultaneous beams can be formed to look in several directions simultaneously. Multiple functions such as communications and radar can also be integrated and multiplexed in the same aperture. This proposal addresses the developmentof low-cost DBF modules employing the integration of MMICs and digital hardware. Applied Radar Inc. has an on-going DBF antenna array development effort that may be used to enhance this project. This SBIR effort will leverage our previous DBF work anddirect it towards the US Army's needs for multi-mission radar and communications. DBF technology will enable a low-cost phased-array radar with better performance than currently available analog phased-array systems. The US Army's Firefinder program willbe the direct beneficiary. This proposed development effort will also benefit our on-going DBF program with other DoD customers in various applications including space-based radar and communication systems, UAV radars, and conformal aircraft antennas.There are also a number of commercial applications including cellular base station antennas, commercial satellite communications and ATC radars.