Programmable channelized digital radio

Ongoing work by GEC-Marconi Electronic Systems Division in the development of a multifunction, common module, programmable digital radio/modem is described. The radio system handles conventional narrowband and spread-spectrum waveforms. The architecture developed is a programmable channelized approach. The modules of one channel are identical to those of the next, and as such are ideally suited to channel reusability during different parts of a mission or during failure modes of higher-priority functional systems. The hardware implementation exploits the latest RF, digital-RF, and digital signal processing component technologies. A PC-based brassboard was developed and used to demonstrate real-time programmable AM, FM, and IFF reception. The channelized architecture offers significant advantages over the fully integrated approach when only a few systems are to be integrated. Advantages are gained over the federated (a system at a time) approach when channel programmability/reusability is desired. The hardware implementation incorporating all digital modulation/demodulation techniques, coupled with the advent of software programmable devices, maintains the fully flexibility of the architecture