VirtuaLabs S.r.l.
LANDAR-C anti-UAV DAR MFR
LANDAR-C (C stands for Compact) is one of the most cost-effective anti-drone Radars available on the market. It is part of the Virtualabs LANDAR radar family based on the Digital Array Radar (DAR) Technology. The other LANDAR radars of the family are bigger and more suitable for a full Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) function.
LANDAR-C utilizes a real Digital Array antenna, i.e. an antenna array where each individual Transmitting-Receiving Module (TRM) is interfaced ONLY digitally (no RF): this will allow to get very cost-effective array antennas, with not only flexibility in their use but also extraordinary phase accuracy with very advanced performances and stability.
LANDAR-C Digital AESA antenna is very cost effective because it is based on advanced "common" modules, called VBR (VirtuaLabs Brick), usable in many projects. VBRs exploit System on Chip (SoC) and HPA in Gallium Nitride (GaN) technologies. Each antenna of LANDAR-C is composed by one VBR.
THE EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE CHOICES
In the past, to get a good target position, either for Track While Scan (TWS) or for single target racking the tendence has been to have a narrow antenna beam. Hence, to limit the antenna dimensions and to get the necessary targets position accuracy, the selection of X Band was mandatory. While the X Band remains the band of choice for Fire Control Radars to get accurate weapons guidance, for other applications, like for instance Drone Control and Battlefield Surveillance, it results that the S Band, with the well-known advantages of lower clutter and lower atmospheric losses, is the best solution.
The resulting S Band wider beamwidth generated by antennas with limited dimensions is very well compensated by the MONOPULSE radar architecture together with a very high phase accuracy control. Therefore, even if the S Band has a wider radar beamwidth the targets positions estimations result very accurate.
LANDAR-C MAIN ADVANTAGES
* The Digital AESA antennas cost-effectiveness allows to realize cost-effective 4 Fixed Faces radar architectures.
* LANADR-C 4 fixed faces architecture allows to receive, during the time on target, a large number of pulses. Consequently, an effective FFT processing can be implemented to eliminate the S Band clutter. This is achieved by excluding the FFT Channels containing clutter without incurring in the unwanted losses generally present in standard MTI filters.
* LANDAR-C Digital Processing is housed under the 4 fixed Digital AESA faces, to reduce the burden of external interfaces.
* For an easier UAV identification, LANDAR-C antenna unit can be complemented by the Virtualabs SWIR TV, as shown in the illustration below.
* The compact dimensions permit the installation of LANDAR-C also on small vehicles.
