Bistatic radar using adaptive digital beamforming

A bistatic radar testbed has been built to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of bistatic radar. This is based on an S-band (3-GHz) 32-element linear phased array with one receiver per element, to which is connected a digital beamformer. Digital beamforming has been shown to be capable of generating the multiple, highly agile, low-sidelobe beams required of bistatic long-range surveillance systems. The intrinsic advantage against directive jammers offered by bistatic geometry over monostatic can be enhanced by using the adaptive capability inherent in the digital beamformer. It is concluded that the separation of the transmit function, which can be relatively crude and robust, from the high-value, high-performance receiver can lead to a system with improved survivability against soft and hard kill countermeasures.<>