Adaptive Radar Algorithms for Next Generation Surface Search Radar

The Navy’s Next Generation Surface Search Radar (NGSSR) system simultaneously supports the primary missions of surface search, precision radar navigation, and periscope detection and discrimination (PDD). The NGSSR system achieves these multiple missions through the uses of programmable waveform modes, unique waveform design and scheduling, and software programmability that take advantage of various modern radar technologies. The Probitas Project, Inc. (Probitas) proposes to implement a coherent set of fully adaptive processors that exploit the NGSSR’s flexible, open architecture design and software-defined nature to significantly enhance system performance and provide a framework for delivering future capabilities through algorithmic insertion to combat new threats such as drone warfare, low-cost programmable electromagnetic jamming, and environmentally adaptive processing. Specifically, Probitas will develop an improved target classification capability to reduce or eliminate the need for operator intervention; provide new approaches to environmental adaptation to minimize spectrum interference, adapt to environmental conditions, and optimize waveform and receive processing to maximize radar performance; and evaluate mission capabilities to detect small, low-flying drones that may be lost within sea clutter.