Introduction of RADAR System

RADAR is the abbreviation of Radio Waves Ranging and Detection. Radar system
consists of transmitter and receiver and each are connected to the directional
antenna. The Radar System is used to detect the presence of target, its range
velocity etc.
Block schematic description of simple RADAR System -Plan position indicator,
frequency and power range of radar System, operation of duplexer-Radar Range
equation.
Block schematic description of pulsed radar system and Moving Target
Indicator including Doppler effect, blind speed.
Block Diagram of simple Radar System
The antenna of Radar System transmits high power microwave signal. If there is
any target, then target radiates the echo signal. Antenna then receives a part of
echo signals and processes it. In most of the RADAR system the same antenna can
be used as both transmitting and receiving purpose. The antenna has been
switched from transmit mode to receive mode and vice versa by duplexer.

RADAR Operation
1. A microwave frequency in the form of periodic pulses is transmitted from
the Radar System by Antenna.
2. After a pulse is transmitted a sufficient rest time must be allowed for the
echo signal to return. Thus selection of PRT will determine maximum
distance of the target to be measured.
3. The Radar transmitter should be inactive during reception.
4. Duplexer of the radar system is automatic.

Duplexer
In both way communications same antenna is used both for transmission and
reception of signal by use of Duplexer. It is a switch which connects the antenna
to the transmitter of Radar during transmission and Radar cannot receive signal
during transmission time. On the other hand antenna connects to R x during
reception and cannot transmit signal during reception period.
Both TR and ATR switch are connected at a distance λ/4 from transmission line
and both are separated by a distance λ/4.
1. During transmission both TR and ATR will look like an open circuit from
the transmission line. Thus Tx will connected to Antenna.
2. During reception ATR is short circuit across transmission line and hence Rx
will connect to the antenna.
This is branch type duplexer and it has less power handling capacity.

RADAR Timing Diagram

𝑇1is the time gap between transmitted pulse and received echo.
𝐶
Maximum unambiguous radar range is given by 𝑀𝑈𝑅 = 𝑇 × 2

where c is the velocity of light.

𝐶𝑇1
Distance of target 𝑅 = 2

1 1
Pulse repetition frequency (𝑃𝑅𝐹) = 𝑃𝑅𝑇
=𝑇
𝑇𝑝
Duty Cycle= 𝑇

For unambiguous detection the echo signal must reach the receiver before the
transmission of next pulse. If target is beyond the MUR, then echo will reach the
receiver after transmission of next immediate or next few pulses and hence
detection of target distance will be wrong.
EX1. (a) A radar transmit 4 µ sec pulse of PRF 6 KHz. Determine unambiguous
range of target.(b)Determine the range of Target if echo signal is received after
60𝜇sec.
Solution: (a)R
C𝑇
−6 𝑝 3 ×108 ×4 × = 600 m
min
=
10 =
2 2

CT 3× [since T= 1
]
R =
108
=
max
2 ×6 × 103 𝑃𝑅𝐹
2

Or R 10
max 5 = 25 × 103𝑚 = 25 km
= 4
8
×60 × 10−6
(b)Target distance= = C𝑇1 3 ×10
=9 km
2 2

Radar Band:
Band Name Freq. Range Peak
(GHz) Power(MW)
UHF 0.3 to 1 5

X 8 to 12.5 10

KU 12.5 to 18 2
K 18 to 26.5 0.6

Ka 26.5 to 40 0.25
Display of RADAR System
The radar system use CRT as a display. There are different types of radar display
described below.
A Scope: ‘A’ scope displays only the range of target not the direction of target.
The A Scope was used on the earliest RADAR system. The Y axis input is
connected to the return signal received from the radar therefore it draws vertical
lines on the Tube. The X axis input is connected to the sawtooth voltage from
time base generator which is synchronised to the pulse repetition frequency of
radar. Since the return time of signal corresponds to twice the distance from the
target divided by speed of light, the distance along x axis indicates the range of
any target.

Pulse Position Indicator Radar:

A PPI is a radar display that displays the position of radar antenna at the centre.
The radar antenna send pulse while its rotates around the radar and cover 360°
Azimuth angle at a fixed elevation angle. It can change angle(elevation)or repeat
same angle as per needs. The distance out from the centre indicate range and
angle around the display is azimuth angle of target. It is essentially B scope
extended to 360°.The output of radar Rx was attached to the intensity channel
(grid of CRT) to produce bright dot indicating return. The output of two
sawtooth generator are used to detect the beam radially out from the centre.
The coil situated in the yoke is similar in appearance of TV picture tube are
rotated mechanically at the same angular velocity of Radar antenna.. Thus the
beam is detected radially outward from the centre and also rotates continuously
around the tube with same angular velocity of the antenna. Therefore any bright
spot appear in the screen indicate presence of target and position of bright spot
locate distance and Azimuth angle of target.
B Scope

The spot was swept up in y axis in the same fashion similar to A Scope's x-axis.
Thus y axis of B Scope indicates range of target. The signal is mixed with a varying
voltage which depends on the horizontal angle of the antenna is applied to the x
axis of the B scope. The received radio signal was sent to the intensity channel
which produces bright spot on the screen indicating target.
C Scope
DScope

Radar Range Equation

Let the transmitting power of Radar Antenna be 𝑃𝑇. If the directive gain of radar
antenna is 𝐺𝑇 then power density at a distance R is given by
𝑃𝑇𝐺𝑇
𝑝 = 4𝜋𝑅2
The target intercepts a part of incident power and reradiates in all direction. The
amount of power intercepted by target and reflected power back in the direction
of radar is characterised by scattering cross section σ is termed as Target Cross
Sectional area(also called Radar cross section RCS). It is measured experimentally.
Thus power density of echo signal at Radar is given by
𝜎
𝑝 =𝑝(
′
𝑃𝑇𝐺𝑇𝜎
4𝜋𝑅2 ) = (4𝜋𝑅2)2
If the effective area of RADAR antenna 𝐴𝑒, then received power
𝑃𝑇𝐺𝑇𝜎𝐴𝑒
𝑃𝑟 = 𝑝 𝐴𝑒 =
′
(4𝜋𝑅2)2
If minimum detectable echo signal be 𝑃𝑟𝑚i𝑛, the maximum radar range can be
obtained by
1
𝑃𝑇𝐺𝑇𝜎𝐴𝑒 𝑃𝑇𝐺𝑇𝐴𝑒𝜎 4
𝑃𝑟𝑚i𝑛 = 2 𝑜𝑟 =[ ]
(4𝜋𝑅max (4𝜋)2𝑃𝑟𝑚i𝑛
𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥
)
2
There is a relation between 𝐺𝑇 and effective area of receiving antenna 𝐴𝑒. The
relation is
4𝜋𝐴𝑒
𝐺= or 𝐴𝑒 𝐺𝑇 ఒ 2
ఒ2 = 4𝜋
1

Thus 𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑇𝐺𝑇

2
ఒ 2𝜎 4
[(4𝜋)3𝑃r𝑚i𝑛]
EX2. A radar is operating at 6 GHz of gain 500, if the transmitted power is 3 KW
and minimum detectable signal power 10-12 watt and RCS of target is 9 m2.
Determine maximum radar range.
1

Solution: R 2 2
𝑇𝐺𝑇 ఒ 𝜎 4
max =[ (4𝜋)3𝑃r𝑚i𝑛 ]
PT = 3000, GT = 500 𝜎 = 9𝑚2
𝑃𝑟𝑚i𝑛 = 10−12
3×10 8
λ= = .05m
6×109 1
3000 ×(500)2 ×(.05)2×9 1
75 ×(10)7 ×25×(10)−4×9
Rmax = [ ]4mitre=[ ]4
(4஠)3 ×10−12 (4஠)3 ×10−12
1
4 7.5 ×25×9 4
Or Rmax=10 [ ] =10
4 × (0.95) mitre
(4஠)3 ×10−12

Or Rmax=9.5 Km.
Pulse Radar System

The pulse modulator generates repetitive train of pulses used as a supply voltage
for the microwave tube which switches ON and OFF. The microwave tube is
generally a magnetron oscillator or klystron or TWT amplifier depending on
requirement. The output of the microwave tube is fed to the antenna by
duplexer.
After transmission duplexer connects the antenna to the receiver section. The
received signal is applied to the mixer after amplifying by low noise amplifier. The
mixer converts the RF signal to an intermediate frequency with the help of local
oscillator. Thus the type of receiver is a super heterodyne type. The IF amplifier
should be designed as a matched filter to maximize signal to noise ratio at the
output. The detector is often a Schottky barrier diode whose output is amplified
by video amplifier whose Band width is same as IF amplifier. The output is
observed in display unit.
Doppler effect
If there is a relative motion between source and observer an apparent change in
frequency is observed by the observer. If source and observer are moving
towards the apparent frequency increases and if they are moving away apparent
frequency decreases. This effect is called Doppler effect and change in apparent
frequency is termed as Doppler frequency shift. The principle of Doppler effect is
used in RADAR system to measure the velocity of moving target.
Calculation of Doppler Shift frequency
If the target is at a distance R then the wave travels distances of 2R.If the
wavelength of transmitted wave is λ then phase shift of the wave for traversing
2R length is given by
2π
φ = 2R [ Since λ corresponds to phase change of 2π]
λ
4πR
= rad
λ
Variation of φ with t gives shift in angular frequency

ω = dφ = d ( 4πR) = 4π ( dR) = 4π v .
d
dt λ λ dt λ t

dt
2vt
Or fd = where vt is the velocity of target.
ℎ

MTI RADAR
In MTI Radar the principle of Doppler effect is used to measure the velocity of
moving target. Here two special types of oscillator are used (i) COHO and (ii)
STALO. The COHO stands for Coherent oscillator operating as the same frequency
as the IF which is providing Coherence(in phase) of transmitted signal with the
reference signal. STALO stands for stable oscillator which is used to produce
transmitted signal and local oscillator signal at the receiver simultaneously.
The output of the IF amplifier and COHO are fed to the Phase detector. The phase
difference between transmitted and receive signal will be constant for fixed
target whereas it vary for moving target. This variation for moving target is due to
Doppler frequency shift ƒ𝑑.
The delay line canceller acts a HPF which rejects the DC component of clutter.
Let the received signal from a target at any time t is given by
𝑣1(𝑡) = 𝐴 𝑠i𝑛(2𝜋ƒ𝑑𝑡 − 𝜑0)
If everything remains unchanged over previous pulse repetition period T, then
signal for previous pulse is given by
𝑣2(𝑡) = 𝐴 sin{(2𝜋ƒ𝑑(𝑡 − 𝑇) − 𝜑0}
𝑇
(𝑡) = 𝑣1(𝑡) − 𝑣2(𝑡) = 2 𝐴 𝑠i𝑛(𝜋ƒ𝑑𝑇) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 [2𝜋ƒ𝑑 (𝑡 − ) −𝜑0]
2

Thus gain is a function of ƒ𝑑 and can be written as

|(ƒ𝑑)| = 2 |𝑠i𝑛(𝜋ƒ𝑑𝑇)|
The gain function at ƒ𝑑 = (where N= any integer) becomes zero and hence the
𝑇
output
delay
line
canceller is zero. Therefore we can say if the target moving with velocity that
𝑁
corresponds to a ƒ𝑑 = 𝑇 then there is no signal at the output of delay line
canceller and hence target will not be detected though it exists. These set of
particular speed is called blind speed.
2𝑣r
We know ƒ𝑑 = ఒ
𝑁
Let at 𝑣𝑟 = 𝑣𝑏, ƒ𝑑 = 𝑇
2𝑣 𝑁
So ఒ = 𝑇

Or 𝑣 = 𝑁 ( ఒ ) = 𝑁 (ఒfr )
2𝑇 2
1
where 𝑣𝑏 is blind speed and ƒ𝑟 = 𝑇
=Pulse repetition frequency

Thus we can conclude that if target attains a velocity of ఒfr

or any integer
2
multiple at ఒfr then the moving target will not be detected by the Radar and these
2
particular set of target speed is called blind speed.
EX3. A radar is operating at 6 GHz with pulse repetition frequency ƒ𝑟=5 KHz.
Determine 1st and 2nd blind speed.
8
Solution: λ = 3×10

6×
= .05m

1st blind speed 𝑣𝑏1 = (ఒfr ) [Put N=1]

2
Or
𝑣
ఒfr (0.05)×5 ×(10)3
𝑏1
=( )= mitre/sec
2 2
=125m/sec.

2nd blind speed 𝑣𝑏2 = 2 (ఒfr2 ) [Put N=2]

Or 𝑣𝑏2 = 2𝑣𝑏1=250m/sec
Question:
(1) A radar transmit 20 µ sec pulse of PRF 5 KHz. Determine unambiguous range
of target.(b)What is the duty cycle of Pulse.[Ans: (a)30 km (b)10%]
(2) What is the Function of Duplexer? Why it is used in RADAR system?

(3) A 3 MHz signal is transmitted from radar transmitter. The target is at a

distance 10Km from radar. Determine the difference in phase angle between
transmitted signal and echo signal if the target is stationary.[400π]
(4) A radar is operating at 6 GHz of gain 500, if the transmitted power is 3 KW and
minimum detectable signal power 10-12 watt and RCS of target is 9 m2. Select
maximum PRF to optimize unambiguous Radar Range.[ans:15.78KHz]
(5) Locate the following Target position by black dot in a PPI display

screen. (a)Target1: Distance 50km from radar at an azimuth angle of 450.

(b)Target2: Distance 200km from radar at an azimuth angle of 3000.
(c)Target3: Distance 500km from radar at an azimuth angle of 2100.
(6) A radar is operating at 6 GHz and 1st blind speed is observed at
250m/sec pulse repetition frequency .Determine pulse repetition time.[0.1
msec]
Reference Books:
(1)Introduction to Radar System By Merrill Skolnik Tata Mcgraw
Hill. (2)Microwave Engineering By Sushrut Das Oxford Higher
Education. (3)Matthew. N.O. Sadiku Oxford
(4)Electronic Communication System By Kennedy and Devis Tata Mcgraw Hill.

END