USE OF MILLIMETER-WAVE TECHNOLOGY IN NAVAL SHIPBORNE RADAR APPLICATIONS

THE U.S. NAVY MUST CONTINUALLY IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE CAPABILITIES OF SHIPBOARD COMBAT SYSTEMS TO MEET EXPANDING AND INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED THREATS. THESE INCLUDE DIFFICULT TO DETECT LOW OBSERVABLE TARGETS (LOT) AND LOW-FLYERS WHICH REMAIN UNDETECTED UNTIL THEY REACH THE RADAR HORIZON. MILLIMETER (MM)-WAVES REPRESENT A GROWING TECHNOLOGY WHICH OFFERS POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES POSED BY THE LOW FLYER/LOT THREAT. CENTRA WILL DESIGN AND ANALYZE MILLIMETER-WAVE RADAR SYSTEMS FOR DETECTION, TRACK, AND ID OF LOW FLYING AND LOW OBSERVABLE TARGETS. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO IDENTIFY ANY EXISTING MILLIMETER-WAVE RADAR SYSTEMS WHICH CAN BE MODIFIED FOR SHIPBOARD USE TO DETECT AND TRACK LOW FLYING TARGETS. THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR POTENTIAL MILLIMETER-WAVE RADAR SYSTEMS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO BE MADE TO EXISTING SYSTEMS AS WELL AS PERFORMANCE PREDICTIONS FOR EACH CANDIDATE SYSTEM.