LM tests digital beamforming capability

MOORESTOWN, N.J., Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin said this week it has tested a DBF capability with its S4R engineering model.

Lockheed Martin said in a statement Tuesday it had "successfully demonstrated digital beamforming -- DBF -- capability to locate and track live targets with its Scalable Solid-State S-band Radar -- S4R -- engineering development model."

"DBF is the most advanced approach to phased-array antenna pattern control. It provides significant performance advantages over conventional analog beamforming techniques, including improved operations in severe environmental clutter and, through the use of multiple simultaneous beams, increased search and track timeline efficiency," the company said.

"Our S4R demonstration successes are quickly moving next generation radar technology -- such as digital beamforming -- from the laboratory to the fleet," said Carl Bannar, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Radar Systems line of business. "S4R will bring a huge radar technology leap to next generation multi-mission radars, ranging from littoral operations to ballistic missile defense."

"The S4R engineering development model is an active, electronically steered digital array radar designed to be scalable to support multiple missions, including air surveillance, cruise missile defense, ballistic missile defense, counter target acquisition and littoral operations," Lockheed Martin said.

"The proven digital array radar design is derived from the S-band antenna developed for the U.S. Navy's next-generation destroyer. The DBF signal processor was derived from the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense signal processor," the company said.

"The S4R engineering development model was developed using Silicon Carbide -- SiC -- based high-power Transmit/Receive modules. SiC provides greater power than other commonly used materials due to its increased heat tolerance. With more power, the radar has longer range and provides more precise target discrimination," Lockheed Martin said.

"This S4R milestone continues Lockheed Martin's legacy of advanced naval radar development. The SPY-1 radar, the pre-eminent radar at sea today, is on 83 Aegis-equipped warships around the world, and is the main sensor for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Weapon System," the company said.