Speaker: Dr Mark J. Smith, SELEX Galileo

E-Scan Radar is a lecture given by Dr Mark J. Smith of SELEX Galileo.

Conventional airborne radars employ mechanical scanning mechanisms but this technology has now been developed to its fullest extent. The next generation of radars, which are now coming into service, will use active electronic scanning to allow almost instantaneous beam repositioning without moving parts. These systems are based upon phased array antennas; a technique which has been known about for many years but which has only been made practical by the development of GaAs MMICs which carry out the phase shifting, generate power and provide low noise amplification at the array face. This lecture describes the design and manufacture of E-Scan Radar with illustrations from practical systems.

Dr Smith has been involved in the design and development of airborne radar systems for over 20 years. He has worked on the Blue Vixen pulse doppler radar for the Sea Harrier and for several years led the system design activities on the multi-mode Captor fire control radar for Eurofighter. Dr Smith also worked on the Erieye AEW radar for Saab Microwave Systems, formerly Ericsson Microwave Systems in Gothenburg, Sweden. He has published a number of papers on radar design and development and is currently employed by SELEX Galileo in Edinburgh, Scotland. In his current role as Head of Radar Capability, he provides strategic technical direction for the development of all the company's UK radar systems including the Seaspray, Vixen and Captor-E range of Active Electronically Scanned Array radar systems.