TABLE OF CONTENTS Fred M. Staudaher
Naval Research Laboratory
Airborne search radars were initially developed for the detection of ships by long-range patrol aircraft. During the latter part of World War II, airborne early-warning (AEW) radars were developed by the U.S. Navy to detect low-flying aircraft approaching a task force below the radar coverage of the ship's antenna. The advantage of the airborne platform in extending the maximum detection range for air and surface targets is apparent when one considers that the radar horizon is 12 nmi for a 100-ft antenna mast compared with 123 nmi for a 10,000-ft aircraft altitude.
Loss of picket ships due to kamikaze attacks led to the concept of the autonomous airborne detection and control station. This type of system was further developed as a barrier patrol aircraft for continental air defense.
The carrier-based E-2C aircraft (Fig. 16.1) uses AEW radar as the primary sensor in its airborne tactical data system. These radars with their extensive field of view are required to detect small aircraft targets against a background of sea and land clutter. Because of their primary mission of detecting low-flying aircraft, they cannot elevate their antenna beam to eliminate the clutter. These considerations have led to the development of airborne MTI (AMTI) 1 3 radar systems similar to those used in surface radars1 ,4 6 discussed in the preceding chapter.
Airborne MTI radar systems have also been utilized...
