Ground-Level Radar Detection for Incoming Munitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar systems are ineffective in detecting high-speed, low-flying rockets due to limited range, low radar cross-section, and latency issues, making them inadequate for providing timely warnings at smaller military bases.
Innovation Solution
A radar system with a transmitter, receiver, and antennas oriented to include ground-level coverage, employing a Continuous Wave (CW) or pulsed radar with a Doppler filter to reject signals outside predetermined velocity limits, providing rapid detection and alert capabilities without minimum range limitations and electronic or mechanical scanning, which reduces latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radar systems are designed specifically for weapon locating with scanning beams, then detection capability for low-flying rockets is improved, but detection latency increases making detection too late for effective warning
Solution Approach 1:
The radar beam is pre-oriented to include ground level coverage where rockets are most likely to appear, eliminating the need for scanning and enabling immediate detection of incoming threats
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses electronic beam steering to dynamically adjust and track the radar beam towards detected targets, maintaining optimal detection capability without mechanical scanning delays
2Measurement precision
If conventional radars are used with minimum range limitations, then detection of distant targets is possible, but detection of rockets launched from short ranges is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The radar coverage is segmented into multiple zones including near-field and far-field regions, with different beam orientations optimized for each zone to ensure comprehensive detection across all ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system adds angular dimension coverage by orienting beams at different elevation angles including ground level, enabling detection of targets at various ranges and trajectories that conventional single-beam radars miss
3Area of stationary object
If radar systems employ electronic or mechanical scanning to cover all directions, then comprehensive surveillance is achieved, but system complexity and detection latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surveillance area is divided into multiple fixed beam zones, each covered by a dedicated receiver chain with optimized beam orientation, eliminating the need for complex scanning mechanisms while maintaining comprehensive coverage
Solution Approach 2:
Each receive beam is designed to be multi-functional, detecting targets across multiple ranges and angles simultaneously, reducing the number of separate systems needed while maintaining comprehensive surveillance capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system offers a cost-effective and efficient means to detect high-speed targets, providing timely warnings with a low false alarm rate, enabling personnel to take cover from incoming threats, and estimating the impact location of rockets with sufficient accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a radar, processing means and indication means wherein the radar has a transmitter, a receiver, and one or more antennas arranged to transmit a signal and to receive reflections of the signal from a region
Implementation Method 2
the processor incorporates a Doppler filter arranged to reject received signals corresponding to a target outside of predetermined velocity limits
Data Source
AI summary
A system for detecting munitions in flight comprises a radar transmitter, receiver, and associated antennas, wherein the antennas are oriented to include ground level coverage, and where a receive antenna is arranged to provide a plurality of receive beams. The system further incorporates a Doppler filter arranged to reject targets that have velocity profiles that do not match those expected of targets of interest. If a target of interest is detected then an indication is provided, preferably in the form of an audible alert, allowing those nearby time to take cover. The system provides a simple munitions detection capability that may operate in CW mode to allow rapid detection, and may also have means such as switchable FMCW, and elevation measurement to allow estimation of possible landing areas of the target.