The radars in the XSTAR family of mobile instrumentation radars are self-contained, TENA‑compliant, fully‑coherent, diverse‑waveform, precision, multi-object tracking systems that produce high‑accuracy time‑space-position information (TSPI) in real-time. The radar-system architecture includes a latest-generation, phased-array, digital-beamforming, real-time processor, an advanced multi-object tracker, and state-of-the-art control, data-acquisition, recording, and processing subsystems. The XSTAR family of radars is comprised of three models, M220, M235, and M250, to support a variety of test-range operational zones. The long-range M250 provides an RF-loop gain exceeding 247 dB at track-update rates of 10 Hz. The system will simultaneously track more than 100 targets within its instantaneous field of view (IFOV). The IFOV is automatically or operator adjustable in real-time, from 1-degree to 20-degrees continuously, to accommodate wide or narrow search and track volumes as defined by operational requirements
XSTAR radars utilize semi-active phased-array antenna apertures for high-duty-cycle and high average radiated power. This precision TSPI radar system produces range-independent range accuracies of less than 0.1 meter and angle-angle accuracies better than 90 µrad for all tracked objects within its IFOV. The radar uses a proprietary, multi-frequency‑continuous‑wave (MFCW) waveform to produce these accuracies for all targets moving within an unambiguous range-Doppler space of 1,600 km and ±13 km/s. The MFCW waveform is complemented by a wideband FMCW waveform to accommodate low-Doppler targets.
These precision TSPI radars are fully-programmable through the use of a sophisticated radar‑control language, and are structured to collect data on rapidly-changing target complexes. The radars are highly-stable operationally because of extensive digital control, digitally-generated arbitrary waveforms, and massive real-time array processing. This versatility is exploited for digital beam forming to create multiple, simultaneous tracking beams activated on target detections made in Doppler domain, which allows these systems to simultaneously collect range and angle data on multiple objects within a wide IFOV. Multiple raw and pre-processed data streams are integrated using common, high-accuracy time stamps, so that the data can be easily reduced and analyzed in post-processing. Both raw and processed data are saved to provide real-time track solutions and reports as well as comprehensive post-processing assessments. The systems have an extensive set of finished data products available in real time or fast time. Multi‑target track files can be generated at 1-, 10-, 20-, 50-, 100-, 200-, and 400-Hz update rates and transferred to remote operational control centers via TENA object protocol.
XSTAR Instrumentation Radars are designed to anticipate evolution in RF and digital technology with a software architecture that supports requirements evolution and new operating systems. XSTAR makes extensive use of COTS subsystems and purpose-designed elements that have a record of reliability in field operations. The onboard, general-purpose computers are of standard design, enabling upgraded system performance as computer capabilities evolve without requiring system redesign. The system expedites both internal and external calibration as a routine part of system setup and mission data collection.