1-4] FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RADAR SYSTEMS 3 



3. Types of modulation intelligence carried on the transmitted and 

 received radiations and the types of demodulation processes used 

 to extract information from the received signals 



4. Operating carrier frequency 



Reference to these four characteristics is usually made in any general 

 qualitative description of a radar — e.g. an (1) airborne (2) intercept search 

 and track (3) conical-scan pulse radar (4) operating at X Band. 



1-3 INSTALLATION ENVIRONMENT 



The most common types of radar system installations are: 



1. Ground-based 3. Airborne (piloted aircraft) 



2. Ship-based 4. Airborne (missile) 



Procurement agencies, in general, have been divided into groups according 

 to installation environment in order to simplify their diversity of interest. 

 Such a division facilitates the proper treatment of the complex problems 

 associated with the development and design of a radar system for a partic- 

 ular installation environment, but does not always provide the cross 

 fertilization of experience needed to take advantage of progress in any one 

 particular line. 



1-4 FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RADAR SYSTEMS 



Some basic functions which may be performed by radar systems are: 



11. Scientific research (e.g. radio astronomy) 



A given radar system may perform only one of these functions. More 

 frequently it will perform two or more. Multimode operation is particularly 

 characteristic of airborne radar systems where space, size, and weight 

 limitations dictate that maximum capability and flexibility be obtained 

 from each pound of radar equipment. 



The specification of the functions that must be performed by the radar 

 systems equipments is a major product of the system study that must 

 precede equipment design. This system study must also produce quanti- 

 tative performance goals for each of the required functions. 



In cases where multimode operation is required, the system study must 

 set up a definitive specification of primary and secondary modes. This 



