VSTAR

Continuous all‑sky precision tracking of multiple airborne and surface‑based objects.

VHF Surveillance Tracking Array Radar (VSTAR) multi-object tracking radar delivers real-time, all‑sky precision tracking of multiple airborne and surface‑based objects simultaneously and continuously.

As a track-while-scan radar, VSTAR continuously tracks surface, low, or high altitude targets moving at slow speeds, as well as rockets, missiles, and high-performance aircrafts traveling at high velocity. VSTAR is able to discriminate between very low altitude, slow-moving airborne targets and surface targets by using interferometric array processing for accurate target positioning, referenced to an embedded terrain elevation database. This interferometric covariance array signal processing is derived from STAR Dynamics technology developed for its XSTAR advanced instrumentation radar system.

VSTAR provides comprehensive, multiple‑target tracking without complex mechanical or active digital control. The multi-object tracking radar system uses relatively low gain array elements to create broad coverage areas that are then scanned during signal processing to establish detections, target locations, and target dynamics.

Fast

1 second updates on multiple-object tracking slant ranges of several hundred kilometers

Dynamic

Fixed or mobile tower-based phased array transmit and receive apertures

Modern

Leading-edge visualization graphics for a user-friendly human-machine interface

Multi-functional

Listen-only mode available to identify jamming, interfering frequencies, and source directions

Slide
All-sky detection

VSTAR detects and tracks targets with Doppler velocities in ranges of 10-6,000 knots—approaching or receding. Its system sensitivity tracking is capable of ranges of 100s km and a center frequency of approximately 200 MHz. And even while processing hundreds of targets in an all-sky search volume and Doppler range of interest, VSTAR can still maintain tracks on over 500 objects simultaneously.

Slide
Dynamic target tracking

VSTAR maintains its track on maneuvering targets within:

• 180° turns at 15°/s in any direction
• 180° turns at 60 m/s2 (6g) in any direction
• Changing altitude at 100 m/s (20 kft/min) over an altitude change of 40 kft
• Linear acceleration up to 20 m/s2 (2g)

Slide
Expandable multistatic network

VSTAR not only detects a target's location and velocity but also the uncertainties in these quantities in a coordinate system (as specified by the current surveillance system). The system's internal commands and controls are handled by standard wireless-link communication protocols between sites. Using this same wireless link, VSTAR can be expanded to a network of radars with expanded coverage, improving overall regional awareness.

Slide
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Interference, jamming, or clutter? No problem.

VSTAR detects and tracks targets from each monostatic node of the overall system so it operates effectively in the presence of interference from broadcast RFI or narrow-band, fixed-frequency jammers. It's also specially designed to compensate for clutter scatterers, including natural ground and sea scatterers, moving ground vehicles, weather, electromagnetic interference, lightning, and other standard environmental conditions.

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Slide
All-sky detection

VSTAR detects and tracks targets with Doppler velocities in ranges of 10-6,000 knots—approaching or receding. Its system sensitivity tracking is capable of ranges of 100s km and a center frequency of approximately 200 MHz. And even while processing hundreds of targets in an all-sky search volume and Doppler range of interest, VSTAR can still maintain tracks on over 500 objects simultaneously.

Slide
Dynamic target tracking

VSTAR maintains its track on maneuvering targets within:

• 180° turns at 15°/s in any direction
• 180° turns at 60 m/s2 (6g) in any direction
• Changing altitude at 100 m/s (20 kft/min) over an altitude change of 40 kft
• Linear acceleration up to 20 m/s2 (2g)

Slide
Expandable multistatic network

VSTAR not only detects a target's location and velocity but also the uncertainties in these quantities in a coordinate system (as specified by the current surveillance system). The system's internal commands and controls are handled by standard wireless-link communication protocols between sites. Using this same wireless link, VSTAR can be expanded to a network of radars with expanded coverage, improving overall regional awareness.

Slide
leak_add
Interference, jamming, or clutter? No problem.

VSTAR detects and tracks targets from each monostatic node of the overall system so it operates effectively in the presence of interference from broadcast RFI or narrow-band, fixed-frequency jammers. It's also specially designed to compensate for clutter scatterers, including natural ground and sea scatterers, moving ground vehicles, weather, electromagnetic interference, lightning, and other standard environmental conditions.

previous arrowprevious arrow
next arrownext arrow

VSTAR Specifications

  • System Capabilities
  • Additional Capabilities

 

 

Range coverage
500 km (270 nm)
Elevation coverage-10° to 70°
Maximum height300 km (1,000 kft)
Minimum velocity1 m/s (2 knots)
Maximum velocity10 km/s (~19,500 knots)
Range accuracy40 m
Azimuth accuracy0.2°
Elevation accuracy0.3°
Velocity accuracy±0.5 m/s (±1 knots)
Detection sensitivity 0 dBsm to >200 km

 

   
Probability of detection 0.9
False alarm probability 10⁻6
Search load / track load 1,500 / 1,000
False track < 5 per hour
Meantime b/t failures > 5,000 hours
Transportability Fixed site or mobile
Local radar control Yes
Remote radar control Yes
Plot update rate 1–10 Hz
Track update rate 0.3–10 Hz
 

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