The bistatic coherent measurement system (BICOMS)

Abstract

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), under contract to the US Air Force 46th Test Group, Radar Target Scattering Division (RATSCAT), at Holloman AFB, NM, has designed and developed a fully polarimetric, bistatic coherent radar measurement system (BICOMS). It will be used to measure both the monostatic and bistatic radar cross section (RCS) of targets, as well as create two-dimensional, extremely high-resolution images of monostatic and bistatic signature data. BICOMS consists of a fixed radar unit (FRU) and a mobile radar unit (MRU), each of which is capable of independent monostatic operation as well as simultaneous coherent monostatic and bistatic operation. The two radar systems are coherently locked using common signal sources which are distributed to the MRU via a microwave fiber optic link (FOL). This paper discusses some of the key system features of the BICOMS.