1 MPAR Working Group Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm. (NOAA) Department

1

MPARWorking Group

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm. (NOAA)Department of Defense (DoD)

Office of Federal Coordinator for Met. (OFCM)

Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR):

Potential to Support Homeland Defense and Security Missions

Presented to: Interagency Air and Maritime Surveillance Summit II

By: The MPAR Working Group

Date: 05 June 2008

Dr. James Kimpel

Director,

National Severe Storms Laboratory

(NOAA)

Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR)205 June 2008

MPAR

Working Group

MPAR Working GroupNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm. (NOAA)

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Department of Defense (DoD)Office of Federal Coordinator for Met. (OFCM)


MPAR

Working Group

Background - MPAR Program Origin• NRC Report Beyond NEXRAD (2002), recommends PAR technology be

developed as replacement for legacy weather radars

• In 2004, Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (FCMSSR) directed an interagency Joint Action Group (JAG) be convened to assess R&D priorities for phased array radar

• OFCM-sponsored JAG published report, “Phased Array Radar R&D Needs and Priorities” in June 2006

DOC / NOAADOC / NOAA

DOT / FAADOT / FAA DOD / DHSDOD / DHS

SINGLE MPAR

SYSTEM

SINGLE MPAR

SYSTEM

Weather & Aircraft

Surveillance

Weather & Aircraft

Surveillance

Weather SurveillanceWeather Surveillance

Noncooperative Aircraft Surveillance

Noncooperative Aircraft Surveillance

Today: OFCM-sponsored MPAR Working Group is working R&D Risk Reduction Strategies / Activities


MPAR

Working Group

Why Consider Weather Radar?

1. Multi-mission capability is possible

2. Weather radars already exist at ~190 locations

3. Same technology holds promise for dramatically improving weather surveillance

4. Can detect biological scatterers (birds, insects), smoke, volcanic ash, etc.

5. Large potential cost savings


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Working Group

TDWRsNEXRADs

Existing Locations


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Working Group

Currently Testing Multi-mission Capability

Spy-1

Antenna

Nat. Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT)


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Working Group

Current Research at the NWRT

• Improved weather surveillance (NOAA, FAA)• Simultaneous weather and aircraft surveillance (DHS, FAA,

NOAA)• Wind farm clutter mitigation (DHS, NOAA)

Long-Range Surveillance

Severe Weather

Non-Cooperative Targets

Weather Fronts

Terminal SurveillanceChemical

Dispersion


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Working Group

ARSR-4ARSR-4ARSR-3ARSR-3ARSR-1/2ARSR-1/2

Today Future Concept

510* Radars, 8 Types 334 Radars, 1 Type

Joint Action GroupRecommendations

NEXRADNEXRAD TDWRTDWR

ASR-9ASR-9 ASR-11ASR-11

•Sustain

•PartiallyModernize

•Replace

5000 ft AGL, Blue, weather only

Affordable MultifunctionPhased ArrayRadar (MPAR)

Stove-pipedApproach:

• NWRT Proof-of-concept tests

• Develop scaled prototype and critical technologies

• NWRT Proof-of-concept tests

• Develop scaled prototype and critical technologies

Mid 2007-2012:

• Full-scale prototype &operational test

• Full-scale prototype &operational test

2010 - 2016:

2007:

• Define concept and R&D roadmap

• Define concept and R&D roadmap

Reduced number of radars - potentially saves $2B

Consolidated maintenance and logistics infrastructure – potentially saves $3B

Includes Operational CONUS radar only

ASR-8ASR-8

Potential Cost Savings


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Working Group

MPAR Operational View

Severe Weather

Terminal Surveillance

Chemical Dispersion

Long RangeSurveillance

Weather FrontsNon-Cooperative targets

Potential Users:

DOT/FAA/FHA NOAA/NSSL/NWS

DOD/Navy/Army/USAF, DHS

NASA, DOA, DOE, DOI, Others


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Working Group

Mr. William Benner

Weather Group Manager

AJP-B400 (FAA)


MPAR

Working Group

Air Traffic Control Radar Snapshot• Air Traffic is expected to more than

double by 2025 and will exacerbate the air traffic delay problem

• Weather accounts for 70% of all delays

• Current weather and surveillance radar networks are aging (new to 40 years old)

• Many are nearing the end of their service life

• FAA Enterprise Architecture Roadmaps include investment decision points for terminal radars (e.g., replacementvs. SLEP)


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Working Group

NextGen Motivation• NextGen Air Transportation System

Integrated Plan stipulates:– “Develop a system-wide capability to

Reduce Weather Impacts”– “Research areas to develop enhanced

weather observations and forecasts, and integrate them with decision support tools to enhance capacity and efficiency of the airspace while improving safety.”

• The FAA is migrating to Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) concept

• The Surveillance/Positioning Backup Strategy Alternatives Analysis Report : – “recommends that the FAA retain approximately

one-half of the Secondary Radar Network as a backup strategy for ADS-B”

– “terminal area primary radar coverage will not be reduced from current levels”


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Working Group

MPAR Approach

• Potential for radar consolidation and fleet reduction (ASR, TDWR, NEXRAD, ARSR)

• Multi-mission capable

• Scalable to mission(s) needs

• Reduced O&M cost and consolidated maintenance, logistic and training programs.

• Improved reliability (electronically scanned vs. rotating)

Weather Aircra

ft


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Working Group

MPAR Assessment• PAR performance is not an issue • Major cost driver is the active

array antenna• PAR ‘Active Array’ development

should exploit advances in:– Military R&D– Commercial technology/process

• Continue investigating advances in technology– New semi-conductor materials– Chip integration– T/R module packaging– Digital architectures

• Research & Development Goals– Demonstrate affordability– Verify technology performance (using COTS)– Verify multifunction capability

Achieves an Affordable Phased Array Radar

Achieves an Affordable Phased Array Radar


MPAR

Working Group

FAA Enterprise Architecture

Surveillance and Weather Roadmaps

2011 - Decision Point (77) to implement NextGen primary radar system including weather surveillance requirements (aligns with JRC-1, Initial Investment Decision)

2014 - Decision Point (104) to replace legacy primary radars (ASR-8, ASR-9) based on air traffic safety, security and weather surveillance requirements

2018 - Decision Point (91) to SLEP Wind Shear systems, ASR-9/11 Wx Channel and NEXRAD or replace with NextGen Wx Surveillance Capability

2020 - Establishment of Acquisition Program Office (aligns with JRC-2B, Final Investment Decision)2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 20132010 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

77 104 91 New Primary Radar (Replaces ASR)

NextGen Wx Radar Capability


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Working Group

Conclusion

• National primary radar network required for foreseeable future

• FAA requirement is a subset of the National Requirement

• Collaboration with other agencies is essential for best value solution

• MPAR is a technology research effort

• MPAR could be part of a multi-agency Family of Solutions


MPAR

Working Group

Dr. Jeffrey Herd

Dr. Mark Weber

MIT Lincoln Laboratory


MPAR

Working Group

Outline

• Terminal MPAR Capabilities

• Technology Risk Reduction Program

• Summary


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Working Group

Terminal Area Primary Radar Missions

• ATC terminal radars support unique missions

– Low altitude wind shear protection at airports

– Thunderstorm monitoring (30 sec update)

– Non-cooperative aircraft surveillance (DoD, DHS)

• FAA Architecture identifies decision points for future terminal area primary radar

2011 - Decision to implement NEXTGEN primary radar system which includes weather surveillance requirements

2014 - Decision for replacement of legacy primary radar (ASR-8, ASR-9), based on air traffic safety, security and weather surveillance requirements


MPAR

Working Group

Terminal MPAR

Surveillance TypeMaximum

RangeMaximum Altitude

Position AccuracyMinimum

SensitivityUpdate IntervalLateral Vertical

Aircraft 60 nm 20,000’ 600’ 600’ 1 m2 < 4.8 s

Weather Microburst 5 nm Surface < 750’ N/A 0 dBZ60 s

(surface

scan)

Gust Front 20 nm Surface < 750’ N/A 0 dBZ60 s

(surface scan)

Storm Structure

60 nm 20,000’ < 8500’ < 8500’ 30 dBZ60 s

(volume scan)

Aircraft & Weather Surveillance Goals


MPAR

Working Group

Candidate Terminal MPAR Concept

• Active Array (planar, 4 faces)Diameter: 4 mTR elements/face: 5,000Dual polarizationBeamwidth: 1.2 (broadside)

2.0 (@ 45)Gain: > 40 dB

• Transmit/Receive ElementsWavelength: 10 cm (2.7–2.9 GHz)Bandwidth/channel: 1 MHzPulse length: 80 s (1 s fill)Peak power/element: 5 W linear pol

10 W circular pol

• ArchitectureOverlapped subarray beamformersNumber of subarrays: 24 Maximum # concurrent beams: 24

334 MPARS required to duplicate today’s airspace coverage. Half of these are scaled “Terminal MPARS”

Weather Surveillance

Aircraft Surveillance


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Working Group

Polarization Requirements

Weather Aircraft

Mode Polarization

Weather Dual Linear

Aircraft (clear) Single Linear

Aircraft (rain) Circular


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Working Group

Adaptive Beam Clusters

R max

20,000 ft

Low Elevation

2°

Transmit

Receive

High Elevation

R max = Max_Alt / sin (Ө)

6°

2°Aircraft

(linear pol)Weather

(dual pol)

12°

2°

Aircraft (up to 24 linear pol beams)

Weather (up to 12 dual pol beams)


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Working Group

Function Scan Update Period (sec)

Aircraft “Track While Scan” 4

Rapid Update Weather Volume Scan 4

High Fidelity Weather Volume Scan 60

1.62.41.62.41.62.41.62.4

TMPAR Scan Timing Summary

Time, sec0 4 8 56 60 4

High fidelity weather scan update period

Aircraft and rapid update weather scan update period

Mode scheduling example:


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Working Group

Clutter

Fuselage

Engine Harmonics

Clutter

Fuselage

Engine Harmonics

Notional TMPAR Air Vehicle ID Modes

• RFID Mode:

– High Doppler resolution (~1 Hz) to discriminate type (jet vs propeller vs bird), velocity spectrum, types of engines, number of engines

– High pulse repetition frequency (~15 kHz)

• High Range Resolution (HRR) Mode:

– Small range gates to discriminate length and image target

– Wide operating bandwidth (2.7 - 2.9 GHz)

• TMPAR hardware supports both RFID and HRR modes

– Capable of detecting < -20 dBsm targets out to 50 nm

Aircraft Range-Doppler Image

Minimum Detectable RCS vs Range

• 5000 elements10 W peak80 μs pulsesSwerling type 1


MPAR

Working Group

Wind Farm Effects Mitigation

• Wind farm effects on primary radars– High reflection levels causes automatic limiting

•RCS of 20 - 40 dBsm (aircraft is 10 – 30 dBsm) – Doppler modulation causes false target signatures

•Blade tip velocities of 80 – 160 knots

• Narrow elevation beam of TMPAR suppresses low angle clutter return

– >35 dB improvement over ASR-9 in signal to clutter ratio for 5 kft target and wind farm at 10 nm

Wind FarmRadar Return Windmill Doppler Spectrum*

* from ‘Feasibility of Mitigating the Effects of Wind Farms on Primary Radar’, Alenia Marconi Systems Limited

TMPAR vs ASR-9 Windmill Suppression

> 35 dB


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Working Group

Outline

• Terminal MPAR Capabilities

• Technology Risk Reduction Program

• Summary


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Working Group

Terminal MPAR Challenges

Challenges:• Ultra-low cost array (~ $50k / m2)• Multiple independent beam clusters• Scalable aperture sizes • Open architecture• Low operations and maintenance costsEnablers:• Highly integrated T/R chips• Design for manufacturability

TMPAR


MPAR

Working Group

Commercial vs Military MMIC* Costs

* Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit** Non-Recurring Engineering

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

1000

1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000 10,000,000

MMIC Unit Volume/Year

Re

lati

ve

Co

st

($/s

q m

m)

NRE** Dominates

Military Commercial

Production Dominates

DDG-1000VSR

Typical Commercial Single Part Volume

TMPAR

Typical military procurement volume is too small to fully amortize engineering development costs

Typical military procurement volume is too small to fully amortize engineering development costs


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Working Group

Approach Impact

Minimize HPA Power Lowers T/R module costs, allows air cooling

Minimize # BeamsSimplifies beamformers, reduces interconnects,

reduces backend processing

Scalable PanelsEnables same array hardware for full scale and

terminal area radars

Tile ArchitectureReduces interconnects, enables higher level of

integration onto array face

Custom T/R Chipset Lowers T/R module cost

Cost Reduction Strategies

Terminal MPAR


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Working Group

Technology Risk Reduction Program

• Program Objectives: – Design, fabrication, and testing of a prototype MPAR active phased

array panel– Detailed cost estimate utilizing best commercial practice for a

large quantity procurement of panels

• Critical Development Tasks:– Antenna elements and beamformers* – Prototype panel with custom T/R chip set**– Risk Definition and Mitigation Plan*,**– Prototype panel test and evaluation*

* MIT LL** Subcontract to Tyco Electronics

2008 Terminal MPAR


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Working Group

Low Cost Panel DemonstrationAperture Face Panel: Including 64 Radiators, Beamformers, 64 T/R Elements, DC and Logic Distribution, Low Level Power Conditioning

Heat Exchanger

Backplane: Includes Beam Controller, Logic Fan Out, High Level Power Conditioning

* Funded under Tyco Electronics IR&D

Performance Testing

Custom T/R Chipset*

RX chipTx chip

LNA / Limiter chip

Custom Radiators and Beamformers

Dual Pol Radiator

Overlapped Subarray

0.43

m


MPAR

Working Group

TMPAR Prototype Radar

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Scaled Aperture Radar Demonstration

Scaled Aperture Radar Demonstration

Full Scale FabricationFull Scale

FabricationTesting and Evaluation

Testing and Evaluation

CDRPDR Testing CDR

• 8 x 8 Element Panel• Array Measurements

• Waveform Design• Systems Analysis

• 768 Element Array• Radar Functionality

• Algorithm Dev • System Simulation

• 4864 Element Array• 48 Receiver Channels

• System Simulation• Test Planning

• Collect Multimode

Data

• Process Data • Report Results

Analog and Digital Hardware:

Systems Analysis & Signal Processing:

Panel Multiple Panel Array Full Scale Array Data Collection

Concept Development, Design, and

Low Cost Scalable Panel Demonstration

Low Cost Scalable Panel Demonstration

Notional Development Schedule


MPAR

Working Group

Summary• Specific concept for a Terminal Multifunction Phased Array

Radar developed– Provides primary radar services in lieu of ASR-8/9/11 and TDWR– Can support backup or integrity verification for ADS-B

• TMPAR has the potential to support key needs of the DHS, DoD, FAA, and NWS with a single radar network

– Flexible electronic beamforming– Multiple simultaneous high gain receive beams– Open architecture signal & data processing

• Affordability being addressed through exploitation of commercial microwave technology

– Critical subsystems development and test underway – Mitigate risk and advance ultra low cost design through industry

partnership


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Working Group

Mr. Kevin “Spanky” Kirsch

Director,

DHS S&T Special Program


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Working Group

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• CBP Air and Marine Operations Center (AMOC)

• US Coast Guard

• Secret Service

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

DHS Primary Radar Usage


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Working Group

• Implementation Strategy:

• Initial Priority Risk Reduction Areas

• Technolgy Demonstration & Testing

• Multi-functionality and Testing

• System Costs – Business Case

• Trade Studies

Discussion Areas for Consensus


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Working Group

• Interagency Management Approach

• Address Urgency Issues

• PD/Congressional Mandated

• Format:

• Past NEXRAD process (OFCM / NEXRAD Program Council / JSPO)

• Multi-Lateral Agency

Discussion Areas for Consensus


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Working Group

QUESTIONS?

40

BACKUPS


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Working Group

Terminal MPAR Weather Sensitivity

80 s pulse80x compression

1 s pulseno compression

5,000 modules @ 5 W per module provides 0 dBZ sensitivity to 60 nm5,000 modules @ 5 W per module provides 0 dBZ sensitivity to 60 nm


MPAR

Working Group

Target ID Mode Operating Parameters

ModePRF (kHZ)

Bandwidth (MHZ)

Range Resolution (m)

Doppler Resolution

(Hz)

Wide Area Surveillance

(WAS)1 2 100 10

RFID 15 2 100 2

HRR 1 200 1 10

Radio Frequency Spectrum:

2.9 GHz

200 MHz

2 MHz

WAS and RFID modesHRR mode

2.7 GHz


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Working Group

ATC Cooperative Surveillance (ADS-B)

• Backup needed in the event of a wide-area GPS outage (e.g. jamming, solar storms) or single-aircraft avionics failure

• Integrity monitoring needed to guard against “spoofing”

• FAA ADS-B backup strategy calls for retention of many legacy radars

– All primary radars

– Secondary radars in high density terminal airspace

• Backup strategy will be re-evaluated as experience with ADS-B is gained

– Alternatives under investigation include wide-area multilateration, DME, e-Loran and other non-radar alternatives (but these are all “cooperative”)

Backup and Integrity Monitoring

Documents

1 MPAR Working Group Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm. (NOAA) Department