The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014)

Phased Array Systems for Air, Land and Naval

Defence Applications in Selex ES
A. Farina and L. Timmoneri
Selex ES - Via Tiburtina km. 12.400, 00131 Rome (Italy)

Abstract— After a brief recall of 3D Long Range phased array

concepts, the focus is on the G-band multifunction radar systems
and on the technological capabilities that the Land&Naval
Division of Selex ES is developing by taking advantage of its
Research and Development facilities. At the end, future trends
about new challenging applications and technological issues are
presented and discussed.

I. INTRODUCTION
This paper is a follow-on of [1] and [2] presented at the Fig. 2. Deployed RAT 31DL/M
1996 and 2003 IEEE Intl. Symposium on Phased Array
The naval version (RAN40L, shown in Fig. 3), sharing the
Systems and Technology. This paper focuses mainly on some
same technology with the other members of the family,
radars systems for air, land and naval defence that Selex ES
completes the family of 3D Long Range Radars in L band.
has recently developed. It is organized as follows: section II
briefly reports on last development of the radars of RAT
31DL family whose rationale and architecture have been
already detailed in [2]; section III focuses on the
multifunctional sensor family in G band taking advantage
from the solid state technology developed in Selex ES or G
Band MMIC T/R modules; section IV briefly gives a feeling
about the future of phased array system in Selex ES while
concluding remarks and references are the subject of section
V.
Fig. 3 RAT 40L antenna
II. RAT 31DL FAMILY The representative technology elements for the RAT31DL
The radars of the RAT 31DL family are 3D sensors based family are essentially related to the power generation and to
on an active phased array antenna. These sensors, in their the processing. The solid state active technology (GaAs -
fixed version, are today the main component for the long Gallium Arsenide) has been developed for the TRM
range surveillance NATO network (see Fig. 1). (transmit/receive module) devices (see Fig. 4) to realize a
distributed solid state TX/RX in the antenna providing great
flexibility in the modes of operation and fail soft degradation.
The TRM main characteristics have already been presented
in [3] and they will not repeated here. As further point, note
that a recent state-of-the-art on TRM technology for phased
radar arrays has been reported in [4], where, after a discussion
on the key references dealing with the technological issues of
the TRM [5-6], it has been emphasized the need of developing
new TRM solutions able to support improved capabilities, as
required by the customers. More details on this point are in [4],
Fig. 1 RAT 31DL at site without radome and will be detailed in the following.
The mobile version (the RAT 31DL/M, shown in Fig. 2)
results to be a valid solution when Customers ask for high
mobility and flexibility.

Fig 4 TRM module

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 The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014)

III. ACTIVE G-BAND PHASED ARRAY RADAR • Dedicated tracking (a dedicated beam is pointed toward
The multifunctional architecture and the modern active the threat).
antenna of G-band radar are the best choice to fulfill the • Refresh rate in the order of very few secs.
following missions: Graceful degradation: the active full phased array antenna
• Point Defence. with TRM distributed in the antenna guarantees :
• Air Surveillance. • graceful degradation: the radar sensor can operate with
• Sea Surveillance. several TRMs out of order, allowing the mission to be
• Littoral Warfare. fulfilled with a graceful degradation of the performance;
• Gunfire Support. • high availability.
System flexibility of multifunctional radar (MR) allows Easy maintainability:
different surveillance modes for different missions with: • TRMs Plug-in: generally accessible from the front of
• Different instrumented range. the array and rapidly replaceable. Next figure 5 is a
• Different elevation coverage (Low, Medium, High). picture demonstrating the plug-in capability of TRM
• Different data rate for different elevation. developed in Selex ES.
• Different waveform for different elevation.
Contemporary and independently from the surveillance
operative mode, MR realizes a threat evaluation for each track
on the basis of its kinematics and detection characteristics in
order to assign a danger level and therefore a priority to the
threat. According to this classification, MR assigns a different
tracking technique to the threat resulting in different
Fig. 5 Selex ES TRM plug-in
waveforms and different refresh rates. In particular:
• Dedicated tracking with a reduced update period is Low number of spare parts:
performed for threats classified as HPT (High Priority • High modularity in antenna
Tracking) • Low number of LRU
• Dedicated tracking with an high update period is • NO consumable components
performed for threats classified as LPT (Low Priority • Digital boards (COTS and legacy) in antenna are the
Tracking) same used below deck.
• Track While Scan with the surveillance operative mode
update period is performed for threats classified as not A. TRM technology
dangerous. As mentioned above, the TRM main characteristics as well
These multifunctional capabilities make MR the most as the Selex ES expertise have been presented in [3-4] and
modern, powerful and cost effective 3D sensors to be will be briefly recalled in the following.
integrated in a Combat System due to: The GaAs Pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility
• Shortest reaction time for track initialization (few Transistor (PHEMT) constitutes the base technology for
seconds after first detection): after the first detection of power amplification and for the amplification of the Radar
a new threat MR confirms the threat in the same scan, received G-band signals. Figure 6 in the following shows a
scanning the beam in azimuth and than initialize it in simplified block diagram of the G-band TRM.
the next mechanical scan. This capability is
fundamental against pop-up target.
• Shortest reaction time for track cueing and engagement:
MR performs a dedicated tracking with an update
period of few seconds for threats classified as HPT
(High Priority Tracking) reaching the FCS required
tracking accuracy in a short time. This capability
provides a time gain in the Combat System engagement
chain.
Fig. 6 Simplified TRM block diagram
High tracking performance against maneuvering target,
performed by means of:
• dedicated tracking;
The High Power Amplifier (HPA), the Driver Amplifier
• implementation of azimuth and elevation monopulse
and theLow Noise Amplifier (LNA) devices are integrated in
techniques; a high density hermetic package realised using Low
• multi-beam activities: in case of fading MR uses its
Temperature Cofired Ceramic (LTCC) multilayer on CuMo
multi-beam activities to look for threat in order to base-plate for thermal dissipation and CTE. Passive resistors
maintain the track. are integrated in the LTCC multilayer to reduce the number of
High accuracy performance thanks to: components to be bonded. The LTCC package integrates also
• 2D (azimuth and elevation) monopulse.
a “Core Chip” based on M/A-COM's Multi-function Self-
Aligned Gate (MSAG) process. A unique feature of the

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 The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014)

MSAG process is the ability to integrate analog and digital •Radiating aperture made of 16 Active Row Plate with
circuitry on the same GaAs die without compromising 604 TRMs.
performance. This “multi-function MMIC” reduces the • Vertical Beam Forming Network (VBFN) and RF Assy
number of chips required for a TRM assembly, reduce for the beamforming of the four simultaneous receiver
assembly costs, and increase next level assembly yields. The beams (Σ, Δaz, Δel, SLB).
LTCC package incorporates the Circulator and Silicon PIN • Multiple Receivers.
diodes having high breakdown voltage used for realizing a • Antenna Control Computer.
Limiter to protect the receive channel. The high level of • Hydraulic circuit for cooling liquid (water/glycol)
integration achieved reduces the number of wires and as a Distribution.
consequence reduces the assembly and package cost. During Each Active Row Plate consists of:
last year an automated production line for the complete TR • Up to 54 solid state MMIC TRMs (called MPK)
module has been settled up. This production line include a connected to the radiating elements
state of the art automated test equipment based on Synthetic • 2 DC/DC converters and 2 Row Control Logic Boards
instrumentations, it allows to perform a complete functional. to provide power supply and digital command to the
MPK by means of a Signal and Power Bus (SPB).
• Hydraulic circuit to cool the Row.
• Horizontal Beam Forming Network.

The Solid state MMIC outstanding technique TRMs are

based on power p-HEMT HPA technology and are designed
and manufactured by Selex ES foundry. The TRM modules,
all identical, perform the following functions:

• RF power amplification in transmission;

• RF Low Noise Amplification in reception;
Fig. 7 KRONOS 3D antenna
• phase shifting in transmission and reception for beam
B. KRONOS steering purpose;
KRONOS is a 3D multi-role medium range G-Band radar • illumination tapering in reception for low sidelobes;
based on Active Electronically Scanned Antenna (AESA) • embedded computer for beam pointing control and
using TRMs populated with GaAs MMICs mainly made in status monitoring.
Selex ES internal Foundry [7]. C. EMPAR
KRONOS uses its inherent multifunctional architecture to
perform simultaneously and independently the surveillance The programme started in the 1986, when a contract was
and tracking functions, scanning the beam both in azimuth and signed by the Italian Customer for development of naval point
elevation. With respect to traditional 3D radar, KRONOS defence application. A passive multifunction phased array
automatically schedules and performs the activity classified as radar with a single rotating antenna was envisaged. An
highest priority according to the tactical scenario scanning the important requirement of the contract was the design of a
beam both in azimuth and elevation while mechanically lightweight antenna, suitable for installation on small/medium
rotating in azimuth at 60rpm. size ships. The G band was selected as the best compromise to
The multifunctional architecture is based on two main perform search & track in the context of a lightweight solution.
building blocks: After development and factory acceptance, the radar was
installed on the Italian ship “Carabiniere” and was tested, with
• A scheduler for a real time allocation of the time/energy full success, by an exhaustive validation campaign.
budget to the different activities (search, tracking, Subsequently, the Italian and French Customers agreed on a
auxiliary) according to the current operative scenario common development for a point defence naval system in the
and to a priority list related to the mission (ex. Priority 1 context of the FSAF programme. An updated version of
for direct attack and missile, priority 2 for long range EMPAR was considered the ideal candidate for the role of
attack, priority 3 for long range surveillance,..). multifunction radar in the naval FSAF scenario. The
• An active full phased array using solid state MMIC
integration of the radar with the Aster missile was performed
Transmit/Receive Modules with a scanning capabilities within the phase 1 of the programme and currently, the radar
of ± 45° in azimuth and ± 60° in elevation in order to be is integrated in the whole defence system (radar, missile, C2)
able to point the beam in the direction of the scheduled on the Carabiniere ship.
activity independently from the mechanical antenna The phase 2 of the FSAF programme, started in 1997, has
position. included many modifications to the radar like: significant
improvement of ECCM capability, improvement of
The active array (Planar Array Unit) consists of: availability, reduction of antenna weight and dimensions. In
addition, the evolution of the design has taken into account the

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 The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014)

requirement for local and medium area defence concept

(PAAMS requirements). The big changes in the international
strategy in the last few years have promoted a new program
that foresees the construction of a consistent number of radars
to be in service in next years. This concept and the
achievements in GaAs pHEMT technology for power
generation and for the amplification of the radar G-Band
signals (see section 3.1) has enabled Selex ES to substitute the Fig. 9 GaN Technology from [6].
passive phase shifters of the EMPAR phase 1 and phase 2 Fig. 10: GaAs Technology from [6].
with active TRM. The insertion of this technology in to the Interesting results are reported in [8-9]. The final aim is to
EMPAR product produces the Multifunctional Active full develop Multi-role and Multi-domain systems which properly
phased array radar of Selex ES. combine GaAs and GaN semiconductors for the development
of wide band TRM. The latter can be adopted for RADAR,
EW, COMMS functions and Photonic technologies for signal
generation and distribution, together with optical routing for
re-configurability of the appropriate function depending on
the scenarios.
As new system and array antenna layout is concerned, note
that possible strategies and innovative architectural solutions
aimed at reducing the number of amplitude active controls (i.e.
the number of TRMs) is of interest for future Selex ES
applications. Such a reduction could allow to sensibly reduce
the overall array costs, weight, and complexity of beam
Fig. 8 EMPAR antenna forming network. Preliminary results on such a point can be
found in [10-11]. Such interesting characteristics can be useful
IV. TOWARDS THE FUTURE for the strong demand on requirements which comes from the
As far as concerned, note that the development of new TRM new approach for naval RF systems, related to the need of
architectural and technological solutions aimed at improving reducing the costs and weights of the on-board apparatus.
the power output (see in the following) and new array antenna In general the evolution of the radar architecture is toward
layouts such to improve the number of functions and the development of Multi-function, Multi-role, multi-domain
capabilities of the corresponding radar system are of interest Systems which claims for innovative architectural solutions
for Selex ES. As the first point is concerned, note that TRM capable of containing the overall system complexity, mainly
key concepts and technology trends have been recently based on shared aperture architectures [10-11]. In these cases,
discussed in [4] and are recalled in the following. In particular, the implementation of Active Phased Array Antenna, with
the aim is to emphasize that new technologies, as the ones wide band TRMs, and fibre optic based solutions able to
based on GaN instead of GaAs, seem to be mandatory [4-9]. dynamically reconfigure the array antenna radiation patterns
By switching from a GaAs based to GaN based technology becomes mandatory.
(see Figure 10, from [6]) a non negligible improvement in the To this aim, Selex ES is working to develop the MAESA
power output for a given TRM power input can be achieved concept (Multifunction/multirole Active Electronically
and effectively exploited to improve the radar detection and Steered Array) for naval application (see fig. 11). This kind of
classification capabilities. In particular, Figs. 9-10 reports systems will allow the integration on the same system of a
interesting results from [6], where a detailed comparison wide range of RF functionalities, such as radar search, ESM,
between the two different technologies is reported and deeply ECM, navigation and fire control radar, uplink, and
discussed. communications which have been up to now confined to
By addressing the reader to [6] for details, note that Fig. 9- dedicated systems.
10 show that the power amount produced by the GaN based
TRM can be sensibly higher than the one achieved by using
traditional GaAs based TRM.
Of course this is of great interest for radar applications,
wherein, given the target, the higher the power radiated by the
radar system, the larger is the radar detection capability.
For all the above, the development of GaN technologies is
becoming of great interest for Selex ES, where the current
work on this topic properly takes advantage from the solid
experience derived by the C-band multifunction radar as
EMPAR and KRONOS.
Fig. 11 MAESA naval application

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 The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014)

Therefore the Company has strategically invested in R&D Moreover an effective solution for the debris observation
to maintain those key technologies at the state of the art by problem will be based on the integration of a heterogeneous
mean of internal facilities, and appropriate Intellectual sensor network. The huge amount of data coming from the
Property strategy. sensors, jointly with additional useful information, will be
combined and fused in remote centers. Refined mathematical
V. CONCLUSIONS AND WAY AHEAD models will support the space situation awareness and predict
The new Selex ES G-band multifunctional radar family has the evolution of debris trajectories and related risks.
been presented; the new products are based on the company To conclude it is worth mentioning the reference [15] that
well proven experience in advanced multifunctional radar illustrates the technologies concerning design, development
systems such as the shipborne EMPAR. Enabling technologies and test of antennas since 1960.
for future multi-role radar systems under developments in
Selex ES have also been briefly introduced; such technologies VI. REFERENCES
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Issue on Antenna, No, 16, December 2013

Fig. 13 RAT31DL/M by Selex ES

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