Low Cost Radar

The research and development (R&D) costs and more importantly the projected production costs of airborne fighter aircraft, multi-mode radars are increasing significantly. Albeit, the performance and reliability are also increasing. Ways reducing these costs without reducing the other CRISP (Cost, Reliability, Installation, Supportability and Performance) costs are necessary. The radar receiver, processor, controls and display functions are not the high payoff areas for cost reduction. This leaves the high power RF and antenna section. This proposal delineates ways to reduce cost significantly in these areas by switching from the current high power MMIC approach to a hybrid approach using Microwave Power Modules (MPMs) and also increasing the ECM capabilities through increased bandwidth. Aside excursion investigating a wide band, polarization agile, MPM antenna array will also be conducted and costs defined.