Low-cost wideband digital receiver/exciter (DREX) technology enabling next-generation all-digital phased arrays

摘要

The digital receiver/exciter (DREX) is a key enabling technology for next-generation affordable phased arrays. The goal is an eventual "all-digital" array solution employing a DREX at each array element. Wideband dual-polarized performance is highly desirable for increased radar target resolution, improved target identification, counter-counter measures, and higher data rates for communications applications. An affordable S-band radar DREX architecture is presented, consisting of a digital module, containing a low-cost field-programmable gate array (FPGA), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) electronics, as well as a single-stage frequency converter employing low-cost components. Multi-channel synchronization, per-channel data storage, and back-end inphase/quadrature (I/Q) data flow and digital beamforming are discussed. Applications include radar, communications, and electronic warfare.