Publications

In 1992 and 1993 ITT Gilfillan teamed with Thomson CSF to develop a solid state transmitter system for airport surveillance radar applications. Because of the low peak power limitations of the solid state transmitter, the radar uses pulse compression techniques to obtain 55 nmi detection performance. In the Fall of 1992 ITT/Thompson executed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the FAA?s Terminal Area Surveillance System (TASS) program office to demonstrate the transmitter at the FAA Technical Center using the FAATC's ASR-9. The Laboratory participated in these tests, which were completed in April 1993. The Laboratory test plan included an assessment of the solid state radar's time sidelobe levels, stability, susceptibility to short pulse interference, and target detection performance. Although the tests were limited in scope and the data required several post-collection processing corrections, the radar exhibited very low time sidelobe levels, had excellent stability, and showed adequate detection performance. The pulse compression receiver was vulnerable to short pulse interference and will require specialized processing techniques to minimize its effects. It was not possible to take weather data, and the FAA Technical Center radar environment has no stressing clutter. Recommendations are made for the follow-on effort at a mountainous site to more completely characterize the solid state ATC radar.