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TRADEX, the Tracking and Discrimination Experiment, is the
original major sensor in a program to develop a ballistic missile radar signature data
base. The radar became operational at RTS in 1963 as a UHF tracker and and L-band
illuminator. The radar was modified to add a VHF capability; this remained its
configuration until 1970, when the system was modified and the antenna rebuilt to support
coherent operation at L-band and S-band. The system remains an L-band tracker and S-band
illuminator. TRADEX is a high-sensitivity, wide bandwidth coherent instrumentation and tracking radar. TRADEX supports many operating modes, including full range and angle tracking and signature collection at L-band and range-only track with signature collection at S-band. Target resolution at L-band is 15 meters; at S-band, target resolution is nominally 5.5 meters. TRADEX currently transmits Right Circular polarization at L-band and S-band; it records phase and amplitude, both RC and LC in both bands. The system uses both uniform train and burst sub-pulse spacing to achieve excellent range and velocity resolution. TRADEX uses an Array Processor System to provide coherent integration of RC signal returns. In its extended range mode, the radar can track targets with a single hit SNR of -23 dB. TRADEX has a multi-target tracking capability allowing the simultaneous track of up to 63 targets. From this target set, the radar can provide ten target files to MCC and collect pulse-by-pulse data on up to six targets. |
