Abstract
This paper describes the effort by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to identify technologies that can be inserted into counterfire radar programs over the next 2 to 20 years. The investigation was funded by the U.S. Army PM (Project Manager) Radars. There are four broad time increments under consideration: (1) incremental improvements to currently fielded systems such as AN/TPQ-36, (2) technologies that can be inserted into near-future systems such as EQ-36, (3) technologies that can be an integral part of conceptual designs of multi-mission radar (MMR) for Future Combat Systems Brigade Combat Team [FCS (BCT)] and (4) technologies that could enable capabilities beyond MMR, such as true on-the-move radar sensors. The science of each technology is described, and how it could add capabilities to counterfire radar is discussed.
The approach used for this paper is a combination of a top-down analysis of program requirements and a bottom-up review of potential technologies. An emphasis is placed on reviewing technologies beyond those already planned for ongoing radar upgrades. Drawing on broad areas of expertise such as material sciences and information processing, technologies outside the normal scope of radar designers were identified for analysis.
To establish a baseline, current radar systems and lessons learned from deployment of those systems were reviewed, along with requirements, plans, user interviews, and policies regarding future systems. A limited analysis of capability gaps and capability requirements was performed to help prioritize the technologies reviewed. As potential technologies were identified, their utility to address the identified capability needs was analyzed and described.
