Open Range Data Link Experiments via Use of a Multifunctional Radar System

This paper investigates the potential for dual-use applications of radar and data link functions, utilizing the same frequency band and a common multifunctional radar hardware with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna integrated with a multi-channel radar backend architecture. By leveraging software-defined technologies, both radar and data link functions can be supported by the AESA antenna. For testing a unidirectional data link application in open range, a large, broadband AESA-based multifunctional radar system was employed. This method enables the possibility of achieving significantly higher data transfer rates compared to current systems, where radar and data link functions are typically handled by separate hardware. The advantage arises from the typically larger radar apertures that create highly focused antenna beams, the higher RF output power, and usually larger bandwidths in airborne surveillance and fire control radars, compared to standalone data link systems. Experimental results from an open-range experiment are presented. Designing a particular FPGA-based software-defined data link modem implemented in this multifunctional radar system, the achievable data transfer rates are demonstrated. During the radar pulse transmission phase, peak data rates as high as 3.5 Gbps are attained in QAM-64 data link mode, with average data transmission rates exceeding 420 Mbps.