Multichannel Phase-Coherent Microwave Measurements: 5 Things To Consider

By Abhay Samant, section manager, RF and wireless communications, National Instruments.

Engineers working on radar and electronic warfare systems should familiarize themselves with these key elements of phased array operation.

In the area of military and defense electronics, electronic warfare (EW) and radar are two of the many applications that rely on multichannel and phase-coherent configurations for signal processing, analysis, and generation. These systems enable cutting-edge performance in vital aspects of EW and radar applications, including radar cross-section (RCS) diversity, improved target localization and tracking accuracy, higher angular resolution, increased degree of freedom, increased waveform diversity, and increased number of uniquely identifiable targets. In essence, they form the backbone of a new generation of military and defense systems focused on multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO), and intelligent wireless communication.