Dynamic AOA Simulator for Intercept Radars (Q-DOT Research Proposal 1390)

Q-DOT proposes to develop a dynamic angle-or-arrival (AOA) simulator to stimulate intercept radars. Modern airborne radars with electronically steered arrays are capable of passively locating and tracking other aircraft with high accuracy. The proposed simulator will generate and position pseudo-plane waves in a 90 degrees X 60 degrees field of view. Simultaneous, multiple targets at arbitrary angular positions will be simulated in the 2 - 18 GHz range. Simulated electronic target emission including carrier, modulation, and doppler are connected to an equivalent optical signal for positioning and distribution. Smooth dynamic beam steering is done with programmable optical time delays (e.g. o-20 ns in 1 ps steps) and attenuation (e.g., 120 db in 0.006 dB steps). Target signals are transmitted to a grid of antenna sites via optical fibers. Each antenna module mounted at active sites converts the optical signals to electronic signals and drives an antenna. The entire wide-band data path can simultaneously accommodate signals ranging from 26 GHz to 18 GHz. The antenna modules are inexpensive and placed only where needed for a particular simulation. The optical fiber feed offers low cost and high performance while providing excellent isolation from neighboring antenna element and the electromagnetic environment. Phase I is devoted to preliminary system design with significant modeling of the electromagnetic environment. Phase II will realize key elements to demonstrate a prototype simulation. A complete simularor will be constructed in Phase III.