Radar Techniques and Applications

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply the radar equation and set up and solve problems involving radar range, noise, and radar cross-section.
• Understand the key factors determining the design of radar systems used in aerospace applications.
• Have an appreciation of the issues concerned with stealth, protection and countermeasures.
• Understand and identify the key components and signals of aerospace systems and how they interact with one another.
• Describe different methods of detecting and dealing with the failure of components and (sub) systems.
• Have an appreciation of the properties of a range of different feasible architectures.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Study and learn independently.
• Solve problems.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• How component parts, subsystems and systems are integrated into complete systems and the communications and interrelationships between the various system elements. Additionally, critical constraints on these systems, how the aerospace systems operates in relation to them and the requirement of future generation systems will also be addressed.
• Radar systems and techniques in use at present so that students can gain a clear understanding of the principles involved, the methods of implementation and how the systems relate to the operation of aerospace radar systems. The use of countermeasures and stealth will also be covered. Future requirements will be discussed to indicate the development required of current and future radar systems. Advanced radars used for imaging will also be included.

Principles (10 lectures)

• Radar signal, illumination, reflection, Doppler effect, polarization
• Limiting factors (beam path and range, noise and interference)
• Radar range equation. Radar cross-section, stealth, noise, Pulse, c.w

Radar signal processing (10 lectures)

• Distance and speed measurement
• Pulse Doppler signal processing
• Reduction of interference
• Plot and track extraction.

Counter measures (4 lectures)

• Chaff, clutter and jamming, masking, decoys

Imaging Radar (2 lectures)

• Side looking radar, synthetic aperture radar

Radar engineering (8 lectures)

• Antenna design
• Frequency bands
• Modulators

Revision lectures (2 lectures)

Teaching methods include:

• 36 lectures, including slide and video presentations, and example classes
• Industry speakers(?)

Learning activities include:

• Directed reading
• Individual work to understand and master the course content, with the objective of successfully solving problems

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.