IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - September 2023 - 36

Radar Challenges, Current Solutions, and Future Advancements for the Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Mission
used to detect, identify, locate, and track UAVs. With the
measurement of target tracks, classification processing is
usually applied to provide additional threat information to
the user [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21].
Mitigation technologies for interdiction can be divided
into the following categories: soft kill (SK) and hard kill (HK).
SK mitigation does not physically destroy UAVs and disables
them without collateral damage. These approaches span
electronic attack (EA) via jamming (RF/GNSS) or spoofing,
dazzling, and nets. HKmitigation involves physically destroying
and/or damaging the threat UAV(s). HK approaches
include directed energy [high energy lasers (HEL) and highpower
microwave (HPM)], munitions and collision
drones [3], [13], [22],and [23]. Although rarely mentioned
the C2 in a C-UAS is very important. C-UAS typically
employ heterogeneous combinations of detection/tracking
and interdiction/mitigation subsystems. The C2 integrates the
various subsystems to provide C-UAS capability. Examples
of programs of record that employ C-UAS are the USMC's
Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) (see
Figure 1) and the U.S. Army's Maneuver Short Range Air
Defense (M-SHORAD) (see Figure 2).
The primary payload for effective C-UAS is a radar. It
Figure 1.
USMC's MADIS uses DRS RADA's multimission radars for
360 persistent coverage ofUAS threats.
Due to the asymmetric nature of UAV threats technology
solutions that are cost effective, high performing and
size, weight, and power (SWaP) efficient are required to
defend against small, medium, and large UAVs. The air
defense systems that have traditionally been used to protect
airspace are mostly designed with inhabited aircraft in mind
and are optimized for detecting, tracking, and shooting
down large fast-moving objects [3]. As a result, these traditional
systems are challenged with small, slow, low flying
drones [3]. As UAV threats have evolved, the U.S. Department
ofDefense (DoD) has developed a variety ofdetection
and countermeasure systems to combat UAVs. These systems
are called counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).
This has driven the market for C-UASwith over 537 systems
on the market with varying levels of capability [3].C-UAS
are primarily composed oftechnologies that provide the following
capabilities: detection/tracking, interdiction/mitigation,
and command and control (C2).
C-UAS detection and tracking are done with radar,
electrooptical sensors, acoustic sensors, and passive RF
detection. An excellent summary of these different technologies
is provided in [3] and [13]. These sensors are
36
is the only detection/tracking system that provides target
range, velocity, and angular location in a single sensor.
Electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors as an example
do not provide range with a single sensor. Additionally,
radars are able to provide day and night operation in
all-weather environments. For C-UAS, other integrated
payloads such as EO/IR cameras, EA sensors, and HK
mitigation systems are cued based on the track information
made available by the radar. Table 2 highlights key
radar parameters for C-UAS.
The parameters listed provide the performance
needed for a radar system that will give the warfighter the
required C-UAS battlefield capability. Table 3 highlights
why radars are the most robust sensor for detection and
tracking with a comparison against alternate technologies.
Figure 2.
U.S. Army's M-SHORAD is a program of record that uses
C-UAS technology.
IEEE A&E SYSTEMS MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2023
IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - September 2023

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