Closed Loop Adaptive EW Simulation

WHAT IS THIS WEBCAST ABOUT?
Electronic warfare (EW) systems must perform in a dense radar threat environment of millions of pulses per second with frequency ranges of 0 to 40 GHz. EW system sorting and tracking techniques depend on the quality with which the EW receiver parameterizes radar threat pulses into pulse descriptor words (PDWs). PDWs contain information such as carrier frequency, time-of-arrival, angle-of-arrival, pulse width and modulation-on-pulse. PDWs are sorted into different radar threats using deinterleaving algorithms and subsequently tracked.

EW simulations at RF and microwave frequencies are run in a similar manner: radar threats are simulated in software and PDWs are sent from software to fast-switching signal sources at a rate of millions of pulses per second and played at RF, depending on simulation resources available.

The goal of increasing test simulation fidelity is to find problems closer to the beginning of the EW system product cycle, when they can be resolved inexpensively and also to minimize costly flight testing before deploying the system.

The number, quality and cost of fast-switching (agile) signal sources used for simulation are the main factors affecting the fidelity of open-loop simulations. Simulation realism can be further increased by changing the simulation based on outputs from the system under test, such as correct identification or jamming responses. This closed-loop, adaptive approach can identify weaknesses in EW systems against advanced threat ECCM.

WHO SHOULD VIEW THIS WEBCAST?
Test engineers, systems engineers and managers who develop, test and reprogram radar and electronic warfare systems.

PRESENTER
Walt Schulte is an Applications Engineer for Keysight’s signal generator and signal analyzer products. With 12 years of experience working in the aerospace and defense market, Walt currently focuses on electronic warfare simulation and measurement. Prior to joining Keysight in 2011, Walt worked for NAVAIR as a systems and test engineer for a defensive EW countermeasure suite. Prior to that, he worked as a scientist developing synthetic aperture radar models and simulations for Applied Signal Technologies (now Raytheon). Formerly, he served as a First Division officer aboard a frigate stationed in San Diego, Calif. Walt received his BSEE from the University of California, Los Angeles.