4 - Appendix A - Radar Systems Certificate Requirements.docx

Appendix A Radar Systems Certificate Course Description

· Principles of Modern Radar

· Phased Array Radar Systems

· Basic Airborne Fire Control Systems

· Principles of Pulse Doppler Radar

· Principles of Radar Electronic Protection - Secret

· Synthetic Aperture Radar

· Basic Antenna Concepts

· Basic RF Electronic Warfare Concepts

· Basic Radar Concepts

· Modeling & Simulation in Radar Systems

· Phased Array Antennas and Adaptive Techniques

· Principles of Continuous Wave Radar

· Radar Performance: Principles & Limitations

· Test & Evaluation of Defense RF Electronic Systems

Principles of Modern Radar

Course Description Learn radar principles, systems, techniques, phenomenology and the basics of radar technology. Get up-to-date examples of modern radar systems, including microwave and millimeter-wave and their applications. Understand antennas, transmitters, receivers, clutter and noise, detection, signal processing, waveform design, Doppler techniques, resolution, multipath and reflectivity measurements. At home location, demonstrations of radar systems and their components complement the lectures.

Learning Objectives

· Solve the radar range equation

· Determine target probability of detection and probability of false alarm

· Understand the radar environment and its effect on radar performance

· Understand the major components of a modern radar system

· Learn basic radar signal processing techniques

· Learn advanced radar techniques

· Know the major functions and applications of modern radar systems

Outline

· Introduction to Radar

· The Radar Environment

· Radar System Elements

· Basic Signal Processing

· Advanced Radar Techniques

· Systems and Applications

Course Materials Participants receive all necessary classroom materials, a CD-ROM and hard copies of all course slides, and the textbook.

Course Length Four (4) days.

Phased Array Radar Systems

Get an overview of phased array radar system requirements and operation, that is reinforced by application examples. Examine major subsystems and associated technologies with specialists in those areas. Focus on phased array antenna principles and design, as well as on software algorithms for search and track. System implementation trends and recent technological developments are summarized. See demonstrations of antenna modeling software and hardware.

Learning Objectives

· Understand and describe the complexities of a multifunction phased array radar

· Become familiar with modern phased array radar technologies

· Analyze phased array antenna designs

· Analyze phased array radar system performance

Outline

· Phased Array Radar Systems

· Control and Scheduling

· Phased Array Radar Sizing and Performance Estimation

· Signal Processing

· Phased Array Antennas

· Antenna Technology

· Calibration and Alignment

· Computer-Aided Design of Phased Arrays

· Transmitters and Receivers

· Multiple Target Tracking

Course Materials Participants receive all necessary classroom materials, a CD-ROM and hard copies of all course slides, and the textbook.

Course shall include analysis software programs such as:

· PARSize (or equivalent ) multiple-function radar sizing tool

· GLOBE (or equivalent ) phased array antenna design tool

· LINARRAY (or equivalent ) antenna pattern and error visualization

Basic Airborne Fire Control Systems

Understand the principles of aircraft fire control systems through interactive computer simulations and laboratory demonstrations. Explore air-to-air and air-to-ground fire control processes. Focus on intuitive physical explanations and PC-based software demonstrations. Build a working knowledge of aircraft fire control system components, including sensors, weapons, MIL-SPEC issues, and the man-machine interface.

Learning Objectives

· Review tactical aircraft navigation/attack scenarios and fire control systems inputs

· Understand the role and limitations of airborne radar and electro-optical/infrared sensors in fire control systems

· Master basic components and function in MIL-STD 1553/1760 configured aircraft fire control systems

· Explore basic components and function of Link-16 Tactical Data Link

· Demonstrate knowledge/limitations of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons in fire control systems

· Master basic equations of motion in precision guided munitions guidance and control

· Examine man-machine interface issues (including relevant HUD/HMD symbology)

· Demonstrate fire control system processes in air-to-air and air-to-ground laboratory simulations

Outline

· Concepts and Definitions

· Airborne Electro-Optic/Infrared Sensors

· Airborne Radar Sensors

· Target Tracking in Sensor Systems

· NCTR/NCTI

· MIL-STD 1553B and 1760C Overview/Demo

· LINK 16 Review/Demo

· Precision Guided Munitions Guidance and Control

· Air-to-Air Weapons Overview

· Air-to-Air Fire Control Issues

· Air-to-Ground Weapons Overview

· Air-to-Ground Fire Control Issues

· Man-Machine Interface Overview

· Man-Machine Interface Lab

Course Materials Participants receive all necessary classroom materials, a CD-ROM and hard copies of all course slides, and the textbook.

Two (2) days.

Principles of Pulse-Doppler Radar

Understand Pulse-Doppler radar and how it is used to detect moving targets in the presence of background clutter. Examine the Doppler shift, how Doppler frequency is measured by a coherent radar, and the range and Doppler extents of the interfering clutter from the perspective of an airborne radar. Explore the concepts of ambiguities and blind zones and their implications toward clutter folding, probability of detection, search time, and the need for pulse-repetition frequency variation. Examine three major PRF regimes - high, medium, and low.

Learning Objectives

· Understand the motivation for using Pulse-Doppler

· Estimate the Range-Doppler extents of mainlobe and sidelobe clutter

· Learn fundamental signal processing methods used in coherent radar

· Learn the various forms of pulse-compression used in Pulse-Doppler modes

· Understand the concepts of ambiguities, clutter folding, and blind zones

· Recognize the relative strengths and limitations of high, medium, and low PRF operation

· Generate blind zone charts and clutter spectra using models provided by course

· Identify hardware-based performance limitations such as phase noise and channel imbalance

· Understand objectives and principles of MTI, GMTI, and SAR modes

Outline

· Basic Radar Concepts

· The Doppler Shift and Clutter Spectrum

· High, Medium, and Low PRF Regimes

· MTI and Doppler Processing

· Pulse Compression

· Target Detection, Clutter, and CFAR

· GMTI and Space-Time-Adaptive Processing

· Synthetic Aperture Radar

· Electronic Protection

Course Materials Participants receive all necessary classroom materials, a CD-ROM and hard copies of all course slides.

Three (3) days.

Principles of Radar Electronic Protection

Learn fundamentals of electronic protection concepts, or electronic counter-countermeasures, including basic electronic warfare concepts, noise jamming, range/velocity deception, and on-board and off-board angle deception, supported by laboratory demonstrations of noise and digital radio frequency memory generated electronic attack waveforms. Explore the methodology for prioritizing electronic attack threats and examples of current threat electronic attack capabilities, conceptual descriptions of more than 50 electronic protection techniques, and adaptive array processing and digital beamforming.

Learning Objectives

· Compute and plot the received power and jamming-to-signal ratio of noise jammers and coherent repeaters

· Identify candidate electronic protection techniques to counter different types of noise and deceptive jamming

· Assess potential strengths and limitations of different electronic protection techniques

· Observe laboratory demonstrations of jammer hardware, including noise generators and digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) repeaters

· Learn temporal and spectral characteristics of electronic attack waveforms such as barrage noise, spot noise, Doppler noise, velocity gate pull off, range-gate pull off, and multiple false targets

· Recognize electronic attack in high resolution range-Doppler images

Outline

· Electronic Attack

· Electronic Protection - Top Level Descriptions

· Electronic Protection - Detailed Descriptions

Course Materials Participants receive all necessary classroom materials, a CD-ROM and hard copies of all course slides.

Course Length Three (3) days.

Security Requirements Class may be taught at SECRET level. Applicants must have SECRET-level clearance, need-to-know certification, and be U.S. citizens. Defense contractors may meet the need-to-know requirement by having the Need-to-Know Certification and Security Clearance form signed by a Department of Defense contracting officer or an official monitoring a classified program. Government personnel can meet the need-to-know requirement by having a supervisor sign the form.

Fundamentals of Synthetic Aperture Radar Signal Processing

Synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, imaging has become a mature technology for remote sensing and tactical and strategic surveillance in both commercial and defense applications because of its ability to combine high-resolution 2- and 3-dimensional mapping with all-weather visibility. New algorithms continue to improve SAR performance and expand its range of applications. Learn the basic principles of modern two- and three dimensional SAR signal processing. Explore emerging techniques.

Learning Objective

· Determine basic SAR system parameters of aperture time, resolution, and coverage

· Examine the difference between strip-map and spotlight imaging modes

· Know the advantages and limitations of many common SAR image formation algorithms

· Interpret SAR imagery

· Size SAR signal processors and data links

· Master motion compensation and auto-focus algorithms

· Calibrate SAR systems

· Integrate SAR and GMTI modes

· Examine the effects of electronic countermeasures on SAR systems

· Apply advanced super-resolution techniques to radar imaging

· Avoid common SAR misconceptions

· Learn how SAR concepts and basic calculations are applied to a variety of systems

Outline

· Foundations

· Common Synthetic Aperture Algorithms

· Emerging SAR Techniques

· Applications and Systems Examples

Course Materials Participants receive a complete set of handouts from the lectures, a CD-ROM of all presentations, analysis, and simulation software demonstrated and a related text.

Basic Antenna Concepts

Understand the fundamental properties, operations, utilizations, and applications of antennas. Focus on intuitive physical explanations, and laboratory demonstrations. When equations are used, they are not derived. Instead, the significance of each will be explained; all terms will be clearly defined; and examples will be given to illustrate how they are used.

Learning Objectives

· Gain a working knowledge of what antennas do

· Learn to construct a basic antenna

· Examine how antennas work

· Master measuring antennas

· Know when to use what type of antennas

· Understand how the environment impacts antenna performance

· Learn what to consider when choosing antennas for a specific application

· Learn the mathematical and physics principles needed for antenna courses

· Discover how to use computer simulation to analyze various types of antennas

Outline

· Antenna Definitions

· Low-Gain Antennas

· Medium-Gain Antennas

· Antenna Construction Lab

· Transmission Lines

· Reflector Antennas

· Array Antennas

· Fundamentals of Propagation

· Modeling & Simulation of Antennas

· Antenna Hardware Examples

· Basic Antenna Measurements

· Antenna Measurements Lab

· Rules, Regulations, and Governance

· Antenna Placement and Siting Considerations

· Radiation Hazards and Considerations

· Antenna Applications

· Polarization Demonstration

· Basic Antenna Principles

Course Materials Participants receive a notebook and CD-ROM of course lectures and software used in lectures or laboratories.

Course Length Three (3) days.

Daily Laboratory Sessions Laboratory sessions provide practical experience and reinforce lecture information, including constructing basic antennas, how antenna measurements are made using radiation pattern and VSWR measurements, and making basic antenna calculations with Excel spreadsheets.

Basic RF Electronic Warfare Concepts

Understand principles of operation of radar-controlled weapon systems and electronic warfare systems designed to counter them, as well as the test & evaluation of these systems. Explore several types of weapon systems in medium-level detail, first principles instruction in electromagnetic waves and radar cross section, then principles of operation for search and tracking radar systems, radio frequency electronic countermeasures systems, and radio frequency electronic support measures systems. Explore mission-level and engineering-level electronic warfare analysis, as well as the test & evaluation of electronic warfare systems.

Learning Objectives

· Explore the basic concepts of electromagnetic field theory

· Master the basics of radar cross section, including its generation and reduction

· Examine how search radars function

· Learn how tracking radars function

· Discover how search and tracking radars are used in weapon systems

· Learn how the same basic functions are applied in different weapon systems

· Examine the functional susceptibilities of weapon systems to electronic warfare

· Explore the basics of on-board electric support systems and techniques and both on-board and off-board electronic attack systems and techniques

· Explore concepts of electronic warfare mission and engineering analysis

· Learn about the test & evaluation of radio frequency electronic warfare systems

Outline

· Electronic Warfare Overview

· Weapon Systems

· Electromagnetic Review

· Radar Cross Section

· Search Radars

· Tracking Radars

· Electronic Support Measures Basics

· Electromagnetic Countermeasures Basics

· Off-Board Self Protection Electromagnetic Countermeasures

· Mission-Level Electronic Warfare Analysis

· Engineering-Level Electronic Warfare Analysis

· Testing Electronic Warfare Systems

Course Materials Participants receive all necessary classroom materials, a CD-ROM and hard copies of all course slides, and the textbook.

Basic Radar Concepts

Understand the fundamental principles of modern radar technology in simple, easy-to-understand terms. Learn to converse comfortably on radar topics with a radar specialist. Have a general understanding and appreciation of the problems a radar specialist encounters.

Learning Objectives

· Solve the radar range equation

· Determine the probability of detection and false alarm of targets

· Describe major components applications of a modern radar system

· Explain major functions of a modern radar system

· Explain differences between radar systems

Outline

· Introduction to Radar

· The Basic Radar Concept

· Basic Radar Measurements

· Physics of Radio (EM) Waves

· Interaction of EM Waves with Material

· Basic Radar Configurations and Waveforms

· The Ubiquitous Decibel

· Radar Search and Track Functions

· Range, Velocity, Angle, TWS, S&T, α-β, and Kalman Filtering

· Radar Radio Frequency Elements

· Antenna

· Transmitter

· Receiver

· Radar Target Detection

· Detection in Noise and Clutter

· Target Detection Models

· Pulsed Waveform Spectrum and Coherent Detection

· Radar Waveforms

· Continuous Wave, Pulsed, Coherence

· MTI/Pulse Doppler

· Imaging (Pulse Compression and SAR)

· The Signal Processor

· Adaptive Signal Processing Techniques

· Constant False Alarm Rate Processing

· Space-Time Adaptive Processing

· Discrimination/Recognition Techniques & Adaptive Processing Example

· Radar Applications

· Airborne, Ground-Based, Ship-Borne Radars

· Example Systems

· Electronic Attack/Protection

· Definitions

· EA and EP Techniques

· Examples

Course Materials Participants receive all necessary classroom materials, a CD-ROM and hard copies of all course slides, and the textbook.

Modeling & Simulation in Radar Systems

Develop techniques for modeling & simulation of modern radars to apply to radar systems design, analysis, test & evaluation, and performance assessment. Begin with the Radar Equation, then extend modeling & simulation to introduce general radar subsystems (transmitters, receivers, and antennas). Explore phenomenology (propagation and clutter), target physics (RCS and dynamics), and electronic attack to develop the radar modeling & simulation and for the further development of modeling & simulation scenarios.

Learning Objectives

· Examine radar systems functions, techniques, and methods

· Model radar functions and techniques, and system component (transmitter, receiver, and antenna) functions

· Learn techniques to integrate propagation, clutter, and radar cross section models into the radar model

· Integrate radar system models into scenario simulations for performance evaluation

Outline

· Modeling & Simulation Fundamentals

· Review of Radar Fundamentals

· Basic Modeling

· Modeling the Radar

· Modeling Radar Functions

· Modeling & Simulation Applications

· Modeling & Simulation Methodologies and Techniques

Optional Refresher The Contractor shall provide an optional introduction to the software used for this course (for example MATLAB and Simulink).

Course Materials Participants receive a notebook and CD with copies of the presentation slides, and computer modeling simulation programs.

Phased Array Antennas and Adaptive Techniques

Explore the hardware and software that comprise state-of-the-art adaptive phased array systems. Study the diverse spectrum of technologies and algorithms available. Learn how they fit together into a design, starting with the principles of phased array antennas and the details of the underlying hardware. Examine digital beamforming and the many possible avenues of adaptive processing. Study practical issues in system implementation and performance. Understand the nature of phased arrays, their construction and design, and the adaptive processing approaches they enable.

Learning Objectives

· Examine the theory and motivation for phased arrays

· Explore classic methods for adaptive antennas, such as sidelobe cancellors

· Understand digital beamforming architecture and radar receiver technology

· Acquire modern adaptive techniques, including principles of cancellation and algorithms

Outline

· Phased Array Antennas

· Array Hardware Architecture

· Subarrays

· Wideband Arrays

· Array Errors

· Linarray Demo

· Digital Beamforming on Receive

· Digital Beamforming on Transmit

· Digital Receiver/Exciters

· Pattern Synthesis

· Sidelobe Blanking

· Nonlinearity Impacts

· Alignment & Calibration

· Introduction to Adaptive Methods

· Sidelobe Canceller

· Adaptive Beamforming Architectures

· Wideband Cancellation

· Adaptive Cancellation Demo

· Angle Estimation

· Applications

Course Materials Participants receive a CD-ROM and notebook with course lectures and software.

Principles of Continuous Wave Radar Course Description Compare the frequency modulated continuous waveform to other wideband waveforms. Consider low probability of intercept issues. Focus on linear frequency modulated continuous waveform with homodyne receiver processing. Explore waveform design, target, clutter, and noise performance. Examine frequency modulated continuous waveform radar applications, including seekers, surveillance, low-cost commercial sensors, and remote sensing.

Learning Objectives

· Understand design constraints for continuous wave radar

· Calculate signal, clutter, and noise power for continuous wave radar

· Estimate range resolution for continuous wave radar

· Gain insight into a variety of continuous wave radar systems and applications

· Evaluate the trade-offs between continuous wave and other radar waveforms

Outline

· Radar Principles CW Radar Introduction

· Sensitivity in Linear FMCW Radar

· Range Resolution

· FMCW Radar Receivers

· Frequency Sweep Linearity

· Low Probability of Intercept: ESM and FMCW Waveforms

· MMIC CW Radar Technology

· Frequency Sweep Linearizers

· Seekers

· FMCW Surveillance Radars

· Automotive FMCW Radar

· FMCW Radar for Terrain Following, Terrain Avoidance, Obstacle Avoidance, Hazard Avoidance, Low-Level Collision Avoidance

· FMCW Radar for Remote Sensing

· High PRF and FM Ranging in Pulse-Doppler Radar

· FMCW Real Beam Imaging System Supporting An Autonomous Landing Capability

· Stepped Frequency Waveforms

· Pulse Compression Basics (Frequency Modulation) and Phase Coded

· FMCW Radar Demonstration

· PPS-15 Personnel Detection Radar

· Synthetic Aperture Techniques in FMCW Radar

· Sinusoidal FMCW Radar

· Commercial FMCW Radar Sensors

· Interrupted FMCW

Course Materials Participants receive a handout of course slides.

Three and one half (3.5) days.

Radar Performance: Principles and Limitations

Examine radar operation at the basic introductory level for several diverse types of coherent radar systems including: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Moving Target Indicator (MTI), Pulse-Doppler (PD), Continuous Wave (CW), and Phased Array Radar systems. Focus on exploring performance limitations relative to an ideal system. Better understand coherent radar performance in the presence of contaminating factors associated with system instabilities, real-world clutter, and hardware errors.

Learning Objectives

· Determine the nonideal performance of coherent radar systems, insofar as the most salient functions and the most salient contaminating sources of system instability are concerned

Outline

· Coherent Radar Overviews

· Pulsed Doppler

· Synthetic Aperture Radar

· Moving Target Indicator

· Pulse Compression

· Tracking Errors

· Continuous Wave Radar

· Environment Error Sources: Propagation, Clutter, Noise, and EMI

· Component Hardware Error Sources from Transmitters, Receivers, and Exciters

· Phased Array Antenna Performance Considerations

· Testing Considerations for Sub-Systems, Systems, and Phase Noise

Course Materials Participants receive a complete set of handouts from the lectures, a CD-ROM of all presentations, analysis, and simulation software demonstrated and a related text.

Three and one half (3.5) days.

Test & Evaluation of Defense RF Electronic Systems

Review the requirements for testing defense-related radio frequency electronics systems (radar, electronic warfare, communications, and RF-surveillance systems), beginning with a detailed discussion of test & evaluation as it pertains to Department of Defense and U.S. government-systems acquisition processes. Explore laboratory and in-situ testing methods for components, subassemblies, subsystems, systems, and platform (ship, air, space, and ground)-level testing. Examine modeling & simulation on test & evaluation and special test considerations in EMC/EMI, electronic combat, and command and control testing.

Learning Objective

· Examine policies and procedures for formal systems acquisition test & evaluation

· Explore formal test & evaluation planning and procedures

· Laboratory test equipment such as spectrum and network analyzers plus automated testing with LabView

· Examine test & evaluation of radio frequency Subsystems - antennas, receivers, transmitters

· Test & evaluation of radio frequency systems integrated onto ground, air, sea, and space platforms

Outline

· Introduction to Test & Evaluation

· Testing Requirements

· Testing Motivation

· Test & Evaluation Case Studies

· DoD Test & Evaluation Organizations & Agencies

· Test Plans

· General Testing Procedures

· Layered Test Process

· Calibration & NIST Overview

· Laboratory Test Equipment

· Basic test equipment - VOMs, DVMs, O-scopes

· Spectrum and Network Analyzers

· Automated, Computer Controlled Testing (GPIB, LabView, etc.)

· Testing Components, Board-level, and Subassembly Testing (with labs)

· Active (transistors, tubes, Ics) and Passive (resistors, capacitors, etc.) Components

· Circulators, isolators, splitters

· Connectors and cabling

· Boards, chassis, and board-level assemblies

· Subsystem Testing (with labs/demos)

· Receivers

· Transmitters

· Antennas

· System Testing (with labs)

· Radar

· EW

· Communications

· RF surveillance systems

· Platform Testing

· Sea

· Airborne

· Space

· Ground

Course Materials Participants receive a notebook and CD-ROM with a complete set of lecture handouts, reference materials used in the course, and automated testing software.

Course Length

Appendix A – Page 7