Search space scanning with planar electronically-controlled array antennas

The demands which radar installations have to satisfy are rising with increasing traffic density in the case of civil applications and a growing threat level in the case of the military sector. In many instances, these demands can only be met by adapting the value of the transmitted power to the traffic density or the magnitude of the threat. Such an approach requires the employment of computer-aided radar systems with electronically-controlled antennas. The considered systems have currently also advantages with respect to reliability and cost effectiveness. The present investigation is concerned with suitable procedures for the improvement of the energy management, taking into account mainly aspects of radar control and signal processing. The discussion is based on the consideration of a planar array antenna. Differences arising in connection with the use of other types of antennas are also briefly examined. The employment of an immobile radar antenna for ground-based airspace observation is considered. Attention is given to the appropriate selection of the width of the lobe, the scanning, the tilt of the antenna, and antenna performance characteristics.