Presented to: MPAR Symposium By: William Benner, Aviation Weather Group, Operations Planning Date: 12 October 2007 Federal Aviation Administration Multi-function Phased Array Radar (MPAR) Technology Research and Development

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 2 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 DILBERT

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 3 Federal Aviation Administration October ft AGL, Blue, weather only 334 Radars, 1 Type MPAR Concept and Approach Today Future Concept 510 Radars, 8 Types Mechanically Rotating Single System Multi-Mission Scalable to Mission Needs Consolidated Maintenance, Logistic and Training Prgms Electronically Steered Multiple Maintenance, Logistic and Training Prgms Non-Scalable Single Mission Eight System Types MPAR ARSR-4 ARSR-3 NEXRAD TDWR ASR-11 ASR-8 ASR-9 ARSR-1/2

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 4 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 FAA Enterprise Architecture Surveillance and Weather Roadmaps Decision Point (77) initial acquisition review decision for NextGen primary radar system including Wx and Aircraft surveillance requirements Decision Point (104) to replace legacy terminal radars (ASR-8, ASR-9) with NextGen primary radar system including Wx and Aircraft surveillance requirements Decision Point (91) to replace Wind Shear systems, and NEXRAD with NextGen primary radar system Initial Operational Capability for NextGen primary radar system including Wx and Aircraft surveillance requirements New Primary Radar (Replaces ASR) NextGen Wx Radar Capability

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 5 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 MPAR Cost Evolution Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Operational Requirements (User Needs) Performance Requirements (Characteristics) Drives Radar System Architecture & Design Drives MPAR Cost Drives Scale

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 6 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 MPAR Requirements Assertions –Operational Requirements associated to MPAR can not be fully developed without a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for Radar –Mission Gaps can not be sufficiently identified without operational requirements –Operational Requirements will drive Architecture/Design which will drive Cost –The MPAR-WG must avoid the pitfall of a bottom-up approach starting with technical requirements for existing radar will lead to ill-formed requirements for MPAR Require a fundamental change in requirements thinking –e.g., 4.8 sec track update not a requirement –What does the user need?

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 7 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 MPAR Cost Reduction What can we do to affect cost? –Scan Strategy Study What are the resources needed to accomplish what must be surveilled? How often does it need to be surveilled? Can we do it cheaper (simplified beamformer network)? –Beamwidth Study Increasing beamwidth decreases the number of T/R Modules decreasing cost What is acceptable to the weather community? –Technology Investigation Semi-conductor materials Commercial Parts

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 8 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 MPAR Cost Influences Several influences to radar system cost –T/R Technology Maturity Economy of Scale Commercial Packaging –User Operational Requirements –Scan Strategies –Beam Characteristics –Desired Performance

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 9 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 R&D Risk Reduction Efforts Established/implemented MPAR pre-prototype technology demonstration program –Exploring low-cost commercial technology (e.g., semiconductor materials, fabrication, etc.) –Evaluating multifunction system concept –Developing advanced active array architecture (digital beamformer, overlapped sub-arrays) –Researching advanced surveillance techniques Completed initial radar system concept definition (e.g., radar coverage analysis, scaled gap-filler concept) Identifying major cost issues and investigating mitigation strategies Developing MPAR Concept of Operations Advanced MMIC Design Digital backplane Low-loss microwave interconnect cables Antennae (4x4 at 5 cm spacing) Electronics cards TR-modules Analog beamformer Downconverters and A/D Power supplies, fans, etc.

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 10 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 R&D Risk Reduction (cont’d) Conducted engineering studies –Evaluation of MPAR Benefits for FAA Weather Services (in progress) –Evaluation of MPAR Benefits for FAA BU Surveillance Services (in progress) –Radar Resource Utilization (weather vs. aircraft) –MPAR Cost Estimate & Technology Assessment (and Cost Model) –Pulse Compression Study

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 11 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 Pathway for Future Risk Reduction Continue researching technology: –Affordability –Capability –Performance Continue to establish partnerships with other Government Agencies, Industry and Academia Develop MPAR Prototype to execute research tasks necessary to meet R&D objectives

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 12 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 BACK-UP SLIDES

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 13 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 En Route Terminal Surface X X X Test M/LAT for PRM PRM-A 76 Test System in Colorado RWSL WM/LAT ATCBI-6 LRR ATCBI-4/5 MODE S ASR-9 ATCBI-4 ASR-8 ASR-11 ASR-7 ASDE-X ASDE-3 MODE S SBS PRM E-SCAN Surveillance Roadmap X X ATCBI-5 X X X Add M/LAT to ASDE-3 sites New Beacon (Replaces Mode S) New Primary Radar (Replaces ASR-8/9/11) X X 95 X LCGS SBS (segmt. 1) SBS (segmt. 2)

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 14 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 Non FAA Sensors PIREPS 85 AWOS/ASOS /AWSS FAA Sensors TDWR LLWAS-RS/NE 37 WSP TR1 TDWR SLEP 1 NEXRAD Product Improvement ASR-9/11 WX Channel NEXRAD ASR-WSP TR SAWS 72 F-420 DASI WSP TR2 25 NLDN SLEP/Replace TDWR SLEP 2 TDWR SLEP NextGen RWI Solution Set 49 Evaluate lower troposphere aircraft Wx Obs NextGen RWI Solution Set Auto PIREP Entry ERAM 43 Weather Roadmap (1 of 2) WSP TR3 84 NextGen Wx Radar Capability

Multi Function Phased Array Radar 15 Federal Aviation Administration October 2007 Sample Cases Numbers Of Array Faces Transmitting Simultaneously Numbers of Simultaneous Radar Beams per Array Face Horizon Search Scan Time3 sec. 2 sec sec.1 sec. Volume Search Scan Time35 sec. 25 sec.1515 sec. Air Track rate Air Track rate Track Starts per Second10 20 Clutter tracks100 Total % Time for search and track100%50%28%29%32%43% Weather Scan Standard Update Rate-180 sec.120 sec.60 sec. Weather Scan Fast Update Rate--20 sec. Weather Scan Fast Update Search Sector Size - -80° Azimuth 18° Elevation 90° Azimuth 18° Elevation 90° Azimuth 18° Elevation 180° Azimuth 18° Elevation Total % Time for Wx Scan0%50%72%53%27%34 % Total Radar Time %100% 82%59%72 %