J. POVEJSIL • P. WATERMAN 



CHAPTER 1 



ELEMENTS OF THE AIRBORNE RADAR 

 SYSTEMS DESIGN PROBLEM 



1-1 INTRODUCTION 



This book presents, and illustrates by examples, the basic information 

 and procedural techniques required to plan and execute the design of an 

 integrated airborne radar system. Basically, this design problem has three 

 parts: (1) the development of radar system performance requirements 

 based on the operational requirements of the overall, weapons system; 

 (2) the development and application of specific radar techniques that will 

 meet the performance requirements within the limitations imposed by 

 laws of nature and the state of the art; (3) the evaluation of the proposed 

 radar system to determine whether or not it meets the requirements of 

 the overall weapons system. 



In each part of the design problem, the systems concept is employed; 

 i.e., the airborne radar system is viewed as an integral part of a complete 

 weapons system rather than as a separate entity. 



The systems concept will be developed by the case study method. A 

 hypothetical weapons system model will be constructed. This model will 

 then be analyzed in relation to the operational requirements in order to 

 derive the specific characteristics of the various system environments which 

 have an important bearing on the airborne radar system design. Those 

 areas which sensitively affect the overall system capability will then be 

 developed. 



By using the derived characteristics, it will be shown how airborne radar 

 systems may be selected and designed to fulfill the overall system require- 

 ments and be compatible with the system environments. 



As an example, the air defense system of a naval carrier task force will be 

 considered. Two types of airborne radar systems are included in this 

 weapons system. 



1. An airborne early warning (AEW) system for alerting the air 

 defense of a fast carrier task force. 



2. An interceptor defense system, utilizing the primary information 

 generated by the AEW system. 



1 



