A Pulsed Microwave Radar Source For Seeker Missile Systems

"Kinetic Kill systems, such as Seeker missiles, rely on Continuous Wave (CW) microwave signals or Infrared (IR) technologies for tracking entry vehicles. These systems are coupled with a volume/range tradeoff and have not proven to be a reliable means oftracking missile threats. Common reasons include their susceptibility to countermeasures and their long processing time of information. Both systems typically deliver long pulses of energy. CW radar systems tend to be large, complex and with a delivery of a low powered signal. Likewise, IR systems require a long pulse for a low signal-to-noise ratio. The net result is that reflectedinformation from the target must be processed in the frequency domain and converted to the time domain. This proposal offers a novel impulse source that is extremely compact, delivers a high powered, short pulse and may be operated at repetition rates high enough to maintain accurate tracking. The proposed circuit is a "credit card" sized and has shownthe promise of delivering peak power levels in the megawatt range using common electronic components and moderate source voltages. The compact impulse generator is well suited for Pockels cell drivers in electro-optics applications, and is also well suited for driving laser diode stacks for injection lasers. The same generator may also be used as a beacon source for strandedvehicles (marine, aircraft, or land-based). The compact Marx could serve as a