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RL-2000/GCI

Description of the radar set, tactical-technical characteristics

Figure 1: Primary Surveillance Radar RL-2000 with collocated ELDIS MSSR-1 secondary surveillance radar

Figure 1: Primary Surveillance Radar RL-2000 with collocated ELDIS MSSR-1 secondary surveillance radar, (Courtesy of ELDIS © 2008 ELDIS Pardubice)

Specifications
frequency: 2.7 … 2.9 GHz
pulse repetition time (PRT): staggered
pulse repetition frequency (PRF):
pulsewidth (τ): 2x 1 and 2x 45 µs
(frequency diversity)
receiving time:
dead time:
peak power: 14 or 25 kW
average power: 2 … 2.6 kW
instrumented range: 60 or 80 NM
range resolution: 70 … 230 m
accuracy:
beamwidth: < 1.5 Degrees
hits per scan: monopulse radar
antenna rotation:
MTBCF:
MTTR:

RL-2000/GCI

RL-2000/GCI is a primary surveillance radar for Terminal Approach Control Application. The RL-2000/GCI design is benefiting from the long time experience on several civilian and military radar types. The radar meets or exceeds ICAO and EUROCONTROL recommendations and standards. The RL-2000/GCI features fully solid-state highly modular configuration, fail-safe system and low life cycle cost.

This radar provides enhanced system stability and powerful clutter suppression to allow no false reports while maintaining excellent target detection up to 80 NM, including enhanced performance for target accuracy and resolution. RL-2000/GCI configuration includes weather channel for reporting of actual weather condition in airspace.

Basic RL-2000/GCI configuration can be extended by monopulse surveillance secondary radar MSSR-1. This configuration extension is representing integrated system solution to Terminal Control Area (TMA).

The system configuration includes operational and stand by channels with automatic switchover processed by system Level. The data output format is using standardized ASTERIX data format but as an option other data formats can be used. The maintenance and repair actions are reduced to minimum and sophisticated remote control and monitoring system allows an unattended system operation.

Antenna system

The antenna system is shaping double coverage cosec2 illumination pattern. The antenna system can operate in linear or circular polarization, which is adjustable via radar control and monitoring system, to rapidly improve weather clutter rejection.

Transmitter

Transmitter is modular air-cooled solid-state transmitter. The transmitter is composed of 2x16 independent modules and is operating in full frequency range with frequency diversity for short pulse and long pulse transmission. Design is fault tolerant with low voltage power supply, which allows continuous operation during maintenance.

RF generator

RF generator is digital waveform synthesizer, which provides optimum number of short and long pulses over coverage period. Transmitted waveforms are generated fully digitally, including the frequency diversity and stagger control.

Receiver

Receiver is digital superheterodyne type with triple frequency down conversion. The high dynamic range is archived by direct IF A/D conversion by 14 bits A/D converters. The receiver has full digital signal processing, automatic gain control, which is improving receiver stability and gain calibration. The receiver BITE is measuring on-line receiver performance parameters, including noise figure.

Signal Processor

The signal processor is based on 32-bit processors with high computing performance. Real time application software is written in “C” language, which provides efficient application solution for adaptive MTD processing. Signal processor performs digital pulse compression for short and long pulses, Doppler filtering through a bank of Doppler filters, adaptive CFAR filtering, target detection and extraction. Adaptive CFAR filtering includes scan to scan filtration criterion evaluation and weather mapping. Extraction process involves using of filter amplitude for range/azimuth target coordinates evaluation and their precision improving.

Control and Monitoring System (CMS)

Each system equipment or unit is fitted with independent BITE to perform performance monitoring and automatic system reconfiguration at system Level. CMS has two parts – local control and monitoring system (LCMS) and remote control and monitoring system (RCMS). LCMS is located on radar site, RCMS can be located on technical room of airport tower, etc.

Both systems are communicating via communication line, which can be represented for example by LAN via optic fiber cable, and have same functional capabilities. CMS monitors continuously radar status and performance and allows to the maintainer remotely control and adjust radar configuration and parameters. CMS incorporates user-friendly graphical interface, which is used for data and status presentation.