Abstract: A combined pulsed and FMCW AESA radar system is described. The radar system includes an AESA array of radiating elements, an array of TR modules, an RF combiner/splitter, a transmitter, a pulsed radar receiver and an FMCW radar receiver. Each TR module corresponds to a respective radiating element of the array of radiating elements. The transmitter is configured to transmit an excitation signal to excite selected or all radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules. When the transmitter is in a pulsed radar mode, the pulsed radar receiver is configured to receive radar return signals via the RF combiner/splitter from radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules. When the transmitter is in an FMCW radar mode, the FMCW radar receiver is configured to receive radar return signals from selected radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules.

Abstract: A combined pulsed and FMCW AESA radar system is described. The radar system includes an AESA array of radiating elements, an array of TR modules, an RF combiner/splitter, a transmitter, a pulsed radar receiver and an FMCW radar receiver. Each TR module corresponds to a respective radiating element of the array of radiating elements. The transmitter is configured to transmit an excitation signal to excite selected or all radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules. When the transmitter is in a pulsed radar mode, the pulsed radar receiver is configured to receive radar return signals via the RF combiner/splitter from radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules. When the transmitter is in an FMCW radar mode, the FMCW radar receiver is configured to receive radar return signals from selected radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules.

Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting an airborne platform against collisions are provided. One system includes FMCW radar sensors including transmitting antennae, means for receiving signals from echoes and for processing and digitizing same, and means for sending a central unit data representing said digital signals via a dedicated point to point link. The central unit includes means for processing said data to detect obstacles, means for calculating parameters for each obstacle including its radial velocity, distance range and azimuth, and means to transmit an avionic system of said platform data representing said detected obstacles and parameters. The system further includes means for guaranteeing that said emitted signals are shifted in time to create a shift in frequency guaranteeing that the radar sensors operate in the whole frequency band without perturbing each other.

Abstract: A method for determining a heading, velocity, and/or position of an aircraft includes receiving a first radar return at a radar antenna for mounting to a first wing of the aircraft and receiving a second radar return at a radar antenna mounted to a second wing of the aircraft where the first wing and the second wing extend from opposite sides of the aircraft. The method also includes determining a velocity of each wing based on the radar returns using processing electronics and calculating the heading, velocity, and/or position of the aircraft based on the determined wing velocities using the processing electronics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting an airborne platform against collisions are provided. One system includes FMCW radar sensors including transmitting antennae, means for receiving signals from echoes and for processing and digitizing same, and means for sending a central unit data representing said digital signals via a dedicated point to point link. The central unit includes means for processing said data to detect obstacles, means for calculating parameters for each obstacle including its radial velocity, distance range and azimuth, and means to transmit an avionic system of said platform data representing said detected obstacles and parameters. The system further includes means for guaranteeing that said emitted signals are shifted in time to create a shift in frequency guaranteeing that the radar sensors operate in the whole frequency band without perturbing each other.

Abstract: This method for detecting ground obstacles from an airborne platform comprises: a step of illuminating the whole field of view of interest with an electromagnetic wave in the range of 0.1 to 100 GHz; a step of receiving the echoes with multiple antenna elements from the whole field of interest and of transforming said echoes into a digital signal per antenna element; a step of combining said digital signals simultaneously in order to obtain simultaneously multiple beams; a step of Range and Velocity filtering each beam in parallel; a step of applying on each filtered beam a detection process using a threshold on amplitude to detect potential ground obstacles; and a step of discriminating said ground obstacles from said potential ground obstacles due to their specific signature in terms of both relative velocity and distance using velocity of the airborne platform.

Abstract: This method for detecting ground obstacles from an airborne platform comprises: a step of illuminating the whole field of view of interest with an electromagnetic wave in the range of 0.1 to 100 GHz; a step of receiving the echoes with multiple antenna elements from the whole field of interest and of transforming said echoes into a digital signal per antenna element; a step of combining said digital signals simultaneously in order to obtain simultaneously multiple beams; a step of Range and Velocity filtering each beam in parallel; a step of applying on each filtered beam a detection process using a threshold on amplitude to detect potential ground obstacles; and a step of discriminating said ground obstacles from said potential ground obstacles due to their specific signature in terms of both relative velocity and distance using velocity of the airborne platform.