Recent Advances in Airborne Phased Array Radar Systems

T. Kinghorn, I. Scott, E. Totten

Leonardo Airborne and Space Systems Division, UK

Abstract
UK AIRBORNE AESA RADAR
Phased Array Radar using Active Electronically Scanned DEVELOPMENT
Arrays (AESAs) is now the de facto norm for airborne
military radar, spanning such diverse applications as Though pre-dated by some theoretical and operational
fighter radar for fire control and targeting, airborne early concept studies, the practical beginning of the development
warning, maritime surveillance and overland surveillance. of airborne AESA Radar in Europe was the start of the
Recent advances have dramatically reduced the costs of AMSAR Technology Demonstrator Programme in 1993.
these systems, whilst novel engineering solutions and Originally a collaboration involving UK-based
waveform techniques have led to major improvements in GEC-Marconi and the French company Thomson-CSF, it
performance and functionality. This paper describes some became a tri-national programme after the German
recent advances developed by Leonardo Airborne and company DASA joined the team in 1995. The design of
Space Systems Division in the UK, describing examples in the first AESA array presented numerous challenges, as the
fighter radar (the multifunction Vixen 1000E radar for the technology was then very much in its infancy.
Gripen aircraft) and in airborne surveillance radar (a new
multi-panel radar using low cost tiled AESAs). The paper
concludes with some views on the likely next stages of
development in airborne radar.

Key Words: airborne AESA radar, wide field of regard

INTRODUCTION

Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA) have

become a recognised solution in both the surface and
airborne radar marketplace due to the manifold advantages
and opportunities that AESA radars offer when compared
to mechanically scanned systems. As a result of both
Figure 1 – The AESA antenna developed during the AMSAR
European and company investment over the last 25 years, programme
Leonardo UK can boast airborne AESA radar technology
that is comparable in capability and cost with competitors
across the globe, and in some cases has pioneered novel The evolution of AESA radars for fighters at in the UK can
approaches which give a significant competitive edge. Two be traced through a number of steps (and a number of
of these advances are described in detail here: the first is a company name changes, to the present Leonardo Airborne
cost-effective implementation of a very wide field of and Space Systems Division). Starting from AMSAR, via
regard (WFoR) fighter radar, as exemplified in the Vixen demonstrator programmes such as CAESAR (4-nation
1000E radar for the Gripen NG aircraft; and the second is Euroradar demonstrator for Typhoon) and ARTS (UK
an advanced low cost AESA technology which has been demonstrator for Tornado) this led to the first production
used to develop the Osprey radar, the world’s first compact radars: Vixen 500E fire control, and Seaspray 7500E for
multi-AESA airborne surveillance radar. airborne surveillance. Subsequent developments include
the fire control radars Vixen 1000E (for Gripen-E) and
The WFoR fighter radar concept dramatically enhances the Captor-E (for Typhoon), and the advanced Osprey airborne
tactical capabilities of the fighter, enabling everything from surveillance radar.
wide area surveillance through to highly advantageous
tactics in air-to-air combat. The focus on AESA design usually centres on the design of
the Transmit/Receive Modules (TRMs) as they are the key
Osprey, the multiple panel airborne surveillance radar, building blocks of the AESA, with a dominant impact on
confers all of the advantages hitherto only enjoyed by large performance, mass and cost. Once a functional TRM with
multi-facet ground and naval systems, yet in a lightweight reasonable performance was produced, the focus of each
and affordable technology for the airborne market. This subsequent development step has been a reduction in cost
novel capability also allows completely new installation and mass, and enhancements in performance and
concepts which can be of major benefit for aircraft functionality
manufacturers.

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 If the field of regard of the radar could be improved over
existing mechanically scanned systems or contemporary
fixed plate AESAs this would not only enhance the
survivability of the aircraft, but offer greater freedoms in
the tactical use of the aircraft.

WFOR solution trade-offs

There are a number of potential solutions to achieve Wide
Field of Regard, which can be split into two approaches:
the use of multiple arrays; or the mechanical movement of
a single array.

Multiple Arrays options include:

Figure 2 – CAESAR Demonstrator installed in a Typhoon in 2007 • Side arrays: Smaller side or cheek arrays installed
at 90° to a larger main array. Provides up to
A key step was to standardise on a common design of ±140° FoR either side of aircraft, but with limited
TRM that could be used in both fighter AESA radars and sensitivity. Requires an RF transparent radome to
in airborne surveillance radars. An example of a typical each side of aircraft and a larger overall
TRM is shown in Figure 3. installation; it is likely to be more costly.

Figure 3 – Leonardo UK TRM for both fighter and surveillance

AESA radars

The operational performance benefits gained from the

rapid beam steering and adaptability of AESA Radars was
established a long time ago. However in much of the
market for airborne radars there is no significant premium
paid for these benefits, so the challenge has been to provide Figure 4 - Pictorial representation of enhanced field of regard
the technical benefits of AESA Radars at an affordable life with a WFoR AESA radar
cycle cost, including development, build and maintenance.
Successfully meeting this challenge has been the key focus • Snow plough: Two arrays installed at angle, e.g.
of much of the work carried out by the Company. 90°, to each other. Provides up to ±120° FoR
either side of aircraft, but with reduced
performance in forward direction. Performance
WIDE FIELD OF REGARD (WFoR) FIGHTER may be limited due to installation volume, most
RADAR suited to installation in broad nosed aircraft.

Why WFoR? Mechanical movement options include:

• Hinge: moves single array about a vertical axis
As noted above, the arguments around the technical
from side to side e.g. ±45°. Provides up to ±115°
benefits of AESA radar have largely been won, with most
FoR either side of aircraft. Requires method to
contemporary customer requirements now mandating an
control mechanical angle of array.
AESA solution for fighter aircraft. There are, however,
practical engineering and performance limitations when an • Repositionable swash plate: single array installed
AESA is considered for installation in a fighter aircraft. at an angle e.g. 30° to the repositioner which can
These issues stem primarily from the maximum electronic be rotated about a horizontal axis. Provides up to
scan angle that can be achieved with an AESA antenna - a ±100° FoR in all directions to side, above or
good AESA design can provide electronic scanning that below aircraft. Requires a method to rotate
matches that of a mechanically scanned fire control radar, repositioner.
however the resulting radar will still have a limited radar
field of regard in the forward sector. This means that in The major drawbacks of the multiple array options are the
order to detect, track and engage threats the host aircraft increase in the number of TRMs required, which has a big
needs to be flying towards the threat. impact on costs, and the difficulty of installing in an
aircraft not specifically designed for these configurations.

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Of the two mechanical options considered, the Improved engagement of stationary surface targets
Repositionable swash plate is preferred as it provides through improved high resolution Synthetic Aperture
WFoR in all directions relative to the aircraft, a significant Radar (SAR)
advantage as the aircraft rolls through turns. The
repositionable swash plate can also be designed to provide • Radar beamwidth places an upper limit on the range
a robust mechanical solution that can be retrofitted into performance of SAR. Using a combination of
legacy platforms e.g. aircraft originally designed for mechanical and electronic scanning to achieve a wide
mechanically scanned radars. Although superficially field of view, mechanical re-positioning minimises the
similar to the detented roll ring installation used in the electronic scan angle, which in turn minimises beam
original AN/APQ-164 installation in the B-1, this more broadening, allowing longer range SAR operation. It
recent design offers considerably more functionality and also permits higher resolution SAR (as the performance
flexibility. of the higher bandwidth waveforms required is
degraded at wide electronic scan angles).
WFoR Advantages
Improved engagement of moving surface targets
The flexibility of WFoR improves the effectiveness of a
fighter aircraft through improved survivability, increased • Mechanical re-positioning minimises the potential
radar performance/functionality and greater flexibility in impact of beam broadening and consequential clutter
tactics and concept of operations, as outlined below: spread. This improves the minimum detectable velocity
of surface targets.
Major improvement in air combat effectiveness
Improved swing role operation
• Extensive simulations of air-to-air combat have
demonstrated that exchange ratios can be improved • Re-positioning the Radar Antenna face appropriately
significantly with a wide field of view system allows a better compromise between air-to-surface and
compared to a ‘conventional’ field of view system. This air-to-air operation (a fixed antenna would generally be
is principally because of two factors: angled up significantly to minimise Radar Cross
− Greatly improved situational awareness, especially Section for air-to-air engagements. This is clearly less
in a multi-ship environment with good Network satisfactory for steep look-down air-to-ground tasks).
Enabled Capability (NEC). Essentially, the chance
of missing an enemy aircraft which is otherwise Improved covertness – reduced radar contribution to
within range is eliminated. aircraft Radar Cross Section
− In Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat, wide angle
scan allows the aircraft to maintain track on the • Re-positioning the antenna face appropriately
target whilst executing an F-pole manoeuvre to 90°. minimises the specular returns in the direction of
This minimises closure rate with the target, places known threats. This in turn increases the survivability
one’s own aircraft in the enemy’s clutter notch (thus of the aircraft.
becoming almost undetectable) and still allows full
target tracking, guidance and datalinking to BVR
missiles.

Supports new, more effective approaches to Combat VIXEN 1000E : A CASE STUDY
Air Patrol (CAP)
Vixen 1000E is the first WFoR production radar developed
• Appropriate orientation of the radar antenna can by Leonardo UK, building on earlier demonstrator
facilitate a pair of aircraft maintaining a full air picture programmes (e.g. ARTS on Tornado) which demonstrated
at all times. Currently coverage is not always the feasibility and principles of WFoR installations for
maintained during handover between CAP pairs. active arrays.
• A more radical approach can offer even greater
benefits. Traditional CAP with forward-looking radar System Description
employs ‘racetrack’ flight paths with, typically, two
aircraft at opposite ends of the racetrack. At any one The Vixen 1000E radar comprises the following four
time only one aircraft is searching in the primary threat LRUs:
direction, and furthermore it is potentially at risk by • Active Electronically Scanned Antenna (AESA);
continually having to progress towards the threat. With • Exciter/Receiver (EXR);
a wide field of view, CAP racetracks can be oriented • Processor Unit (PU);
across the direction of the threat, allowing all aircraft to • Primary Power Supply (PPS).
contribute simultaneously (or alternatively the same job
could be done with fewer aircraft). This approach could The system architecture is designed for flexible high speed
be especially cost-effective against threats such as a control and for easy installation at aircraft level.
cruise missile attack where the threat axis is reasonably
clear and a very rapid response is required.

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 Rotating
Joint Array

Figure 5 – Vixen 1000E System Architecture

The AESA is built from individual planks, each of which Repositioner

hold a number of Transmit-Receive Modules (TRMs). The Figure 7 – Vixen 1000E Antenna
numbers and lengths of planks used to make up the array
were selected to maximise the area of the array within the
volume constraint of the aircraft radome. The planks are Figure 7 shows the complete Antenna assembly.
held together in a structural frame which also provides
coolant distribution. The antenna assembly includes all the Combined with the system’s multi-channel receiver and
necessary RF manifolds, secondary power supplies, control processor, the complete system provides a novel AESA
electronics and an integrated inertial measurement unit. radar that combines the performance advantages of AESA
technology with the tactical advantages of wide field of
regard. The resulting design provides a solution that
optimises performance whilst minimising the price and
installation complexity for the host aircraft.

AESA AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE RADAR

Leonardo UK has pioneered the introduction of AESA-

based general purpose airborne surveillance radars.
Existing products, such as Seaspray 7500E, have been in
service for over ten years and utilize a combination of
mechanical rotation and electronic scan to provide 3600
surveillance with a range of novel and highly effective
Figure 6 – Exploded view of Vixen 1000E Array modes and functions which exploit the high speed
electronic beam steering capabilities of the array. These
existing products employ a patented ‘thinned’ array design
The Array is integrated with a rotating mechanism, referred
to provide a combination of full electronic elevation scan
to as a repositioner, to create a swash-plate antenna capable
and limited electronic azimuth scan. With the AESA
of providing a ±100º total field of view through a full bi-
technology of the time this provided a cost-effective
directional rotation of the repositioner. The repositioner
solution, however aircraft installations remained relatively
comprises a rotating joint, motors, motor drive system,
conventional, typically employing a nose or belly radome.
bearing assembly and structure. The rotating joint transfers
signals, power and liquid cooling across to the rotating part
of the Antenna. The size of the motors was selected to
provide sufficient rotation rate and acceleration to meet
operational scenarios while minimising the required
volume and power consumption.

Figure 8 – Seaspray 7500E Antenna

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It was clear that the full benefits of AESAs for this type of The production version of this prototype antenna is shown
application could only be realised with a fixed multi-facet in Figure 11. This incorporates a number of improvements
antenna installation, as this would convey enormous to reduce cost and improve manufacturing, which is
freedom in the development of new installations with absolutely key to achieving success in a highly cost-
multiple antennas at several locations around an aircraft to conscious segment of the airborne radar market. The
provide full angular coverage. production AESA shown is a self-contained unit with
integral radome, which allows multiple antennas to be
To realise this objective required the development of thin, deployed around an aircraft as required to provide the
light and above all low cost AESAs. Modern airborne angular coverage demanded by the end user.
surveillance radars are required to provide a
comprehensive suite of air, land and sea surveillance
capabilities, so the AESAs need to be highly specified- the
one concession compared to fighter radars is that a lower
power density is generally sufficient. This can be taken
advantage of by adopting an air-cooled antenna
architecture, which allows significant reductions in size
and mass. It also, importantly, allows the adoption of a
considerably simplified (and hence lower cost) design of
T/R module and the use of a simplified ‘tiled’ array method
of construction.

Figure 9 shows the compact T/R module and the prototype

tiled array antenna developed by Leonardo UK to meet Figure 11 – Low Profile AESAs for Multi-AESA Osprey Radar
these objectives. This work is described in more detail in
references [1] and [2]. The antenna comprises a single
printed circuit board which provides power, RF and control A typical aircraft installation is shown in Figure 12, where
signal distribution, with integrated radiating elements. The three AESAs are mounted around a helicopter to provide
T/R modules are ceramic BGAs, approximately half an 3600 surveillance coverage with minimal impact on the
inch square, which are surface-mounted on the printed airframe. The forward antenna is mounted behind a nose
circuit board, together with other necessary components. radome and is complemented by two further antennas in
This simplified assembly is then integrated with a support the rear of the sponsons. This provides uninterrupted
structure, power supplies and cooling provision. coverage with no obstruction or any need for a bell-
mounted radome.
A comparison of typical modelled and measured radiation
patterns for this antenna is shown in Figure 10.

Figure 9 – Prototype Tile Antenna and Compact TRM Figure 12 – Multi-AESA Osprey Radar Installation in a Search
and Rescue Helicopter for the Norwegian Government

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The next significant advance in airborne radars will be the

advent of wide RF bandwidths, encompassing two or more
traditional radar bands and expanding system
functionality to include electronic warfare and
communications. [3], [4].

Key challenges here include wideband array face designs;

wideband radomes; wideband, high efficiency power
Figure 10 – Measured (L) and Modelled (R) Transmit Radiation devices; and true time delay beam steering. Advances in
Patterns (unweighted, plotted in U-V space) high bandgap semiconductor devices (GaN) offer good

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solutions for wideband power generation, whilst highly AUTHORS
integrated RF ASICs using SiGe or RF-CMOS will allow
sophisticated wideband beam control and calibration.
Increasingly digital antenna architectures will be part of the Prof Tony Kinghorn, MA (Cantab),
solution for future systems, but in the airborne field at least FIET, CEng, FREng
a combination of analogue and digital techniques is likely
to be the norm for the foreseeable future. Wideband, Tony Kinghorn has spent his career
multifunction RF systems will start to emerge as working in the field of airborne radar.
mainstream products in the relatively near future and these He is Chief Technical Officer for RF
systems will support a dramatic shift in the capability of Systems in the Airborne & Space
military aircraft, enabling smaller, lower cost platforms to Systems Division of Leonardo.
take on roles that previously required much larger and Responsibilities include technology
more expensive systems - a true ‘force multiplier’. strategy and advanced technology
development.

CONCLUSIONS Dr Iain Scott, PhD, BEng

This paper describes two recent advances in airborne Iain Scott is a Radar Capability
phased array radar systems, both aimed at providing the Manager within the Airborne & Space
key advantages of AESA radar systems (performance, Systems Division of Leonardo where
flexibility and reliability) together with wide field of his responsibilities are AESA radar
regard, in a cost-effective manner. product governance and strategy. Prior
to this role, he was Chief Systems
The fighter system employs a single high power liquid- Engineer on a number of AESA fighter
cooled AESA on a novel mechanical repositioner, which radars development programmes for
provides high performance and wide angle coverage, which UK and export customers.
confers major tactical advantages to modern combat
aircraft - at a price which is comparable to a traditional Dr Edward Totten, PhD, MSc, BSc
fixed AESA system. (Hons), MIET
The airborne surveillance radar has pioneered the use of Ed Totten is Head of Airborne AESA
very low cost air-cooled AESAs in order to provide a Engineering within the Airborne &
lightweight multi-panel design which provides extreme Space Systems Division of Leonardo
installation flexibility in a wide range of platforms, where he is responsible for the
together with full 3600 coverage and all the advantages of modelling and design of AESA antenna
AESA technology. arrays. Ed was previously the R&D
Team Leader and Engineering Manager
Together these systems represent major innovations in the of Integrated Antenna Solutions (IAS),
field of airborne AESA radar which provide high within Selex Elsag.
performance, yet cost-effective systems for a wide range of
applications.

Future trends are anticipated to be toward wide bandwidth, REFERENCES

multi-functional systems which will enable a step change
in future systems capability. [1] Lyon, Kinghorn, Morrison, Stonehouse, Byrne and
Dugan, “Active Electronically Scanned Tiled Array
Antenna”; 2013 IEEE International Symposium on Phased
Array Systems & Technology, Boston, USA

[2] Byrne, Kinghorn, Lyon and Morrison, “Multi-Facet

AESA Antenna with “Tile” Technology”, 2014 CEE/IEEE
International Radar Conference, Lille, France

[3] Kinghorn, “Where next for Airborne AESA

Technology?”, IEEE International Radar Conference 2008,
Rome, Italy (reprinted in IEEE A&E Systems Magazine,
Nov 2009, pp16-21).

[4] Farina. Holbourn, Kinghorn and Timmoneri, “AESA

Radar – Pan-Domain Multi-Function Capabilities for
Future Systems” 2013 IEEE International Symposium on
Phased Array Systems & Technology, Boston, USA

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