Interpreting users´ requirements [radar system development]

This paper is concerned with the process of understanding users´ requirements. The authors make no claims that the process described or methods used are new. All that has been done is to adapt methodologies from a similar domain to tailor them to the specific needs of one project. However, the authors believe that the work described was successful. A scheme was developed in which all the parties, from both the user and technical communities involved in the project, actively participated. It is hoped that this scheme may have general applications. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) at Malvern is currently acting for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) in an experimental programme to investigate advanced radar systems. In this programme an existing radar system is to be modified to allow it to be used as a platform for a series of experiments. These experiments will determine the contribution this type of radar can make to a new and as yet, not fully defined military mission. In addition to providing the technical lead in developing the radar modifications, the DERA are required to develop a trials programme to evaluate the modifications