Digitizer-Based Measurement Trade-Offs for Electronic Attack Systems

摘要

A pilot's ability to maneuver out of harm's way depends on the seconds that elapse between detection, identification of an enemy missile's radar signal and the jamming response from the aircraft's electronic attack (EA) system. A designer's confidence in the integrity of that EA system is based, in part, on the ability to capture related RF signals using measurement equipment with sufficient dynamic range, instantaneous bandwidth and capture time to validate the radar/jammer signal interaction. These tests are often performed in a lab environment. This article describes digitizer capture methods, including raw and digital down-conversion (DDC), comparing the key trade-offs for making essential validation measurements: dynamic range, bandwidth and capture time.