(Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin).
(Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin).
(Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin).
(Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin).
(Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin).

Doppler Radar To Fill Gaps in Missile Defense Systems

Sept. 24, 2015
Lockheed Martin has entered into an agreement with Weibel Scientific to develop continuous wave Doppler radars that fills gaps in ballistic missile defense systems.

Lockheed Martin will collaborate on radar with Weibel Scientific that fill gaps in ballistic missile defense systems, while being immune to interference from buildings and other large obstacles.

The companies plan to design the gap-filling tracking radar so that it can continuously transmit and receive ultrasound waves. That will enable the radar system to measure the velocity and position of ballistic missiles in real-time. 

The GFTR system is still in development and few details have been released. But it will probably share technology used in Weibel's continuous wave Doppler radar, which contain multiple receivers and advanced signal processing to calculate location. Typically, CW Doppler radar usually only provides an object's velocity.

Weibel's multi-frequency surveillance and tracking radars include phased-array antennas, beam-shaping transmitters, and multi-beam receivers to target moving objects at distances further than 1,000 km. The GFTR system will be designed, developed, and tested at Weibel's facilities in Denmark, with Lockheed providing support from its development site in New Jersey.

Over the years, Weibel has had several contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense. In 2012, the company was received a $36-million order of 1,995 Doppler radars for missile defense applications. Weibel's multi-frequency tracking radars have also been used by NASA to track debris during rocket launches.

Sponsored Recommendations

Frequency Modulation Fundamentals

March 14, 2024
The development of crystal-clear FM communications was an innovation of genius and toil. Utilized today in applications such as radar, seismology, telemetry and two-way radios...

44 GHz Programmable Signal Generator

March 14, 2024
The Mini-Circuits SSG-44G-RC is a 0.1 to 44 GHz signal source with an RF output range of -40 to +17 dBm with fine resolution. This model supports CW and pulsed (? 0.5 ?s) outputs...

Webinar: Introduction to OTA Measurement for mmWave and Sub-THz

Feb. 19, 2024
Join Jeanmarc Laurent, a leading expert from MilliBox, for an exclusive live webinar showcasing a complete Over-the-Air (OTA) testing system setup. In this immersive session, ...

Using a CMT VNA with Socket Server

Feb. 19, 2024
This application note describes use of a software application CMT Socket Server which is distributed and supported by Aphena Ltd. Please email [email protected] regarding purchase...