Typical radar systems are limited to energy distribution characteristics that are range independent. However, operators are generally interested in obtaining information at particular ranges and discarding elsewhere. It seems appropriate then to attempt to put energy solely at the range(s) of interest, thus minimizing exposure to clutter, jammers and other range-dependent interferences
sources. The frequency diverse array (FDA) can provide a mechanism to achieve range-dependent beamforming and the spatial energy distribution properties are investigated on transmit and receive
for different architectures herein.
While simplified FDA receive architectures have been explored, they exclude the return signals from transmitters that are not frequency matched. This practice neglects practical consideration in receiver implementation and has motivated research to formulate a design that includes all frequencies. We present several receiver architectures for a uniform linear FDA, and compare the
processing chain and spatial patterns in order to formulate an argument for the most efficient design to maximize gain on target.
It may also be desirable to beamsteer in higher dimensionalities than a linear array affords, thus, the transmit and receive concept is extended to a generic planar array. This new architecture
allows 3-D beamsteering in angle and range while maintaining practicality. The spatial patterns that arise are extremely unique and afford the radar designer an additional degree of freedom to develop operational strategy.
The ability to simultaneously acquire, track, image and protect assets is a requirement of future fielded systems. The FDA architecture intrinsically covers multiple diversity domains and, therefore, naturally lends it self to a multi-mission, multi-mode adar scheme. A multiple beam technique that uses coding is suggested to advance this notion.