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Sula is working on 2 research programmes concerned with enhancing the radar capabilities in fast jets.
RE418 - Combat Aircraft Radar Research
Supporting QinetiQ, Sula has been working to quantify the benefits, in terms of efficiency, of using an active electronically-scanned antenna to replace the current mechanically-scanned system on the Typhoon aircraft.
Sula's role was to examine in detail some of the potential techniques to maximise Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) performance whilst minimising the radar resource (and in particular the radar time) needed.
The potential for deliberately broadening the transmit beam was examined as was using multiple simultaneous receive beams to improve instantaneous coverage without giving excessive degradation in detection performance or Minimum Detectable velocity. We also investigated the level of fidelity needed in clutter measurements to give the required probability of detection and false alarm, and the potential benefits given by co-operation between multiple aircraft.
Sula used the results and conclusions of this study to develop a structured set of guidelines for the Radar Resource Management algorithm design.
Non-linear Synthetic Aperture Radar (NSAR)
The Electromagnetic Remote Sensing Defence Technology Centre (EMRS DTC) have continued to support the Sula development of NSAR (Non-Linear Synthetic Aperture Radar), a new technique invented by Sula to address two major short-comings of conventional radar imaging techniques. NSAR enables the true velocities and positions of moving targets to be measured accurately, and allows imaging to continue during high speed manoeuvres, thus increasing platform survivability in hostile conditions.
In previous years we have conducted successful flight trials using a sideways looking radar supplied by Selex in a BAE Systems aircraft. This years work has concentrated on the application of NSAR techniques to a modern combat radar mounted on a highly manoeuvrable jet aircraft and the investigation into the military benefits that are expected to be achieved, including freedom to manoeuvre during the acquisition of SAR imagery and significant improvement of the GMTI performance.
Sula are now looking at industrial partnering opportunities to introduce NSAR into relevant radar programmes.
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