Frequency Diverse Array Radars

TLDR

The paper proposes a generalized structure for a frequency diverse array radar. The radar uses a linear phase progression across the aperture, optionally combined with a linear frequency shift across elements, to produce a range‑dependent scan angle and enable flexible space‑time‑frequency‑phase‑polarization control for simultaneous multi‑mission operation. The design offers flexible beam scanning, resistance to point interference such as multipath, and supports simultaneous multi‑mission operation such as synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indication.

Abstract

This paper presents a generalized structure for a frequency diverse array radar. In its simplest form, the frequency diverse array applies a linear phase progression across the aperture. This linear phase progression induces an electronic beam scan, as in a conventional phased array. When an additional linear frequency shift is applied across the elements, a new term is generated which results in a scan angle that varies with range in the far-field. This provides more flexible beam scan options, as well as providing resistance to point interference such as multipath. More general implementations provide greater degrees of freedom for space-time-frequency-phase-polarization control, permitting novel concepts for simultaneous multi-mission operation, such as performing synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indication at the same time.