The so-called emerging challenges are not so emerging anymore. Windfarms have been around for decades by now. Not only 4G/5G but also 3G base stations and other high frequency sources interfered with S- and L-band surveillance systems, already many years ago. The increasing air traffic density – and with that the higher need for air traffic safety awareness – can hardly be called an emerging issue either. So, what is the real challenge for contemporary air surveillance?

The real challenge is the speed at which technologies develop. New technologies drive the rapid change in air space environments, but legacy radar technology lags behind. New radar technologies are available though, but operational systems have a typical lifetime of 20-30 years. Replacing those monolith systems by new, state-of-the-art monolith systems weighs too heavy on the budgets. Note that the development cycle for a complete radar system counts many years. It can take a decade between the initial conception and a validated system when you start from scratch.

In fact, it’s not the radar operators, but the manufacturers and the integrators who own the real challenge. How will they design new systems that can keep pace with advancing technology?

Intersoft Electronics learned from its Mid-Life Upgrades (MLU) and Service Life Extension Projects how to design modular radar subsystems. The Next Generation Signal Processor (NGSP®) forms the cornerstone for advanced signal processing technology on legacy radar. The portfolio extended to complete modular ASR systems, from antenna to plot output, for multiple applications, civil and military, land based and naval.

Intersoft Electronics’ radar modules are not only offered for upgrades. They are also integrated by radar manufacturers in their new systems. Approaching a new radar system design from the start – i.e. make it modular – allows to keep pace with new technologies and keep the budgets under control. Software is updated from remote and hardware modules can be replaced in-line. The system remains fit and offers an infinite lifetime.