Simulation of an adaptive radar system for design and performance evaluation

Simulation/analysis tools for ground-based ballistic missile defense systems are described; the analytical models of radar elements discussed here permit rapid optimization of such system performance measures as reentry vehicle detection, clutter rejection, resolution and target position estimation accuracy. Modular Monte Carlo simulation models and high-fidelity, slow-running simulations are described. The radar hardware simulations include nonlinear effects of filter distortion, waveguide dispersion, quadrature distortion, cable reflections and gain compression in the analog hardware, as well as truncation and quantization effects in the digital signal processor and waveform generator.