Active electronically scanned array: Difference between revisions

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[[File:ILA Berlin 2012 PD 193-2.JPG|thumb|The [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] combat aircraft with its nose fairing removed, revealing its [[Euroradar CAPTOR]] AESA radar antenna]]

An '''active electronically scanned array''' ('''AESA''') is a type of [[phased array]] antenna, which is a computer-controlled [[antenna array]] in which the beam of radio waves can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving the antenna.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Insane Engineering of the F-35B | date=28 January 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lCOgFPtaZ4 |access-date=2024-02-16 |language=en}}</ref> In the AESA, each antenna element is connected to a small solid-state transmit/receive module (TRM) under the control of a computer, which performs the functions of a [[transmitter]] and/or [[receiver (radio)|receiver]] for the antenna. This contrasts with a [[passive electronically scanned array]] (PESA), in which all the antenna elements are connected to a single transmitter and/or receiver through [[phase shifter]]s under the control of the computer. AESA's main use is in [[radar]], and these are known as active phased-array radar (APAR).

The AESA is a more advanced, sophisticated, second-generation of the original PESA phased-array technology. PESAs can only emit a single beam of radio waves at a single frequency at a time. The PESA must utilize a [[Butler matrix]] if multiple beams are required. The AESA can radiate multiple beams of radio waves at multiple frequencies simultaneously. AESA radars can spread their signal emissions across a wider range of frequencies, which makes them more difficult to detect over [[Radio noise|background noise]], allowing ships and aircraft to radiate powerful radar signals while still remaining stealthy, as well as being more resistant to jamming. Hybrids of AESA and PESA can also be found consisting of subarrays that individually resemble PESAs, where each subarray has its own [[RF front end]]. Using a hybrid approach, the benefits of AESA (e.g., multiple independent beams) can be realized at a lower cost compared to pure AESA.

The first ground-based, ship-based and airborne AESA radars became operational in the mid 1990s.<ref name="radar" /><ref name="aviationweek.com" />

==History==

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* The first airborne series production AESA was the [[EL/M-2075]] Phalcon on a [[Boeing 707]] of the [[Chilean Air Force]] that entered service in 1994.

* The first AESA on a combat aircraft was the [[J/APG-1]] introduced on the [[Mitsubishi F-2]] in 1995.<ref name="aviationweek.com">{{cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/japan-upgrading-60-f-2s-aam-4-japg-2|title=Japan Upgrading 60 F-2s With AAM-4, J/APG-2|access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref>

* The first AESA on a missile is the seeker head for the [[AAM-4|AAM-4B]], an [[air-to-air missile]] carried by the Mitsubishi F-2 and Mitsubishi-built [[Mitsubishi F-15J|McDonnell-Douglas F-15J]].<ref name="aviationweek.com"/>

US based manufacturers of the AESA radars used in the F-22 and Super Hornet include Northrop Grumman<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=116105|title=Northrop Grumman Successfully Completes F-22 Radar Flight-Test Certification (NYSE:NOC)|access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> and Raytheon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raytheon.com/products/aesa/|title=Raytheon|author=Raytheon Corporate Communications|access-date=17 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707032431/http://www.raytheon.com/products/aesa/|archive-date=2008-07-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> These companies also design, develop and manufacture the transmit/receive modules which comprise the 'building blocks' of an AESA radar. The requisite electronics technology was developed in-house via Department of Defense research programs such as [[Monolithic microwave integrated circuit|MMIC]] Program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.csmantech.org/Digests/2003/2003PDF/1-2.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926193553/http://www.csmantech.org/Digests/2003/2003PDF/1-2.pdf|url-status=dead|title=A DARPA Perspective on the Future of Electronics<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ll.mit.edu/news/journal/pdf/vol12_no2/12_2devphasedarray.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-08-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926193552/http://www.ll.mit.edu/news/journal/pdf/vol12_no2/12_2devphasedarray.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-26 }}</ref> In 2016 the Congress funded a military industry competition to produce new radars for two dozen National Guard fighter aircraft.<ref>Albon, Courtney. “Concerned about Industrial Base: Senate Appropriators Call For Broader F-16 AESA Radar Upgrade.” ''Inside the Air Force'', vol. 26, no. 23, Inside Washington Publishers, 2015, pp. 3–3, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/24803921. JSTOR website] Retrieved 13 March 2022.</ref>