Space scanning FMCW‐based two‐dimensional frequency diverse array radar

Abstract

The frequency‐modulated continuous wave (FMCW)‐based frequency diverse array (FDA) radar concept is extended to two dimensions (2D). The radar operates as a linear pulsed FMCW/FDA in the transmission (TX) mode while it operates as a pulsed FMCW/phased array (PA) in the receiving mode. It is shown that the FDA has the capability of scanning a 2D angular sector in a single pulse TX. It is shown that local instantaneous frequency bandwidth is much smaller than the radiofrequency (RF) frequency deviation of linear frequency modulation. Positive and negative slope TX/RF locations offer frequency diversity. The low signal‐to‐noise ratio of FDA is well compensated due to target temporal decorrelation diversity in the observation time and by the cumulative detection scheme used. Time domain and frequency domain signal processings are described. A Ku‐band direct digital synthesis‐based FDA radar design is compared by a corresponding equivalent PA radar.