Abstract: Surface acoustic wave dispersive delay lines provide a chirp signal generator and filter capable of producing signals of which the frequency-time slope can be varied. The chirp signal generator includes two surface acoustic wave delay lines, means for impulsing the delay lines with a variable relative time delay, and a mixer for combining the outputs of the two delay lines. The variable dispersion filter includes two delay lines, means for impulsing the delay lines with a variable relative time delay, a first mixer for combining an input signal with the output of one delay line and a second mixer for combining the output of the first mixer with the output of the other delay line. Variation in the time delay between the impulsing of the two delay lines produces a variation in the chirp rate at the output signal. The amplitude frequency characteristics of the signal generator and filter may be made non-linear by amplitude weighting one delay line.