Radar Spectrum Engineering and Management
Technical and Regulatory Issues
Hugh Griffiths
, Lawrence Cohen
, Simon Watts
, Eric Mokole
2
, Chris Baker
, Mike Wicks
and Shannon Blunt
Abstract
The RF electromagnetic spectrum, extending from below 1 MHz to above 100 GHz,
represents a precious resource. It is used for a wide range of purposes including
communications, radio and television broadcasting, radio navigation, and sensing. Radar
represents a fundamentally important use of the EM spectrum, in applications which include
air traffic control, geophysical monitoring of Earth resources from space, automotive safety,
severe weather tracking, and surveillance for defence and security.
Nearly all services have a need for greater bandwidth, which means that there will be ever-
greater competition for this finite resource. The paper explains the nature of the spectrum
congestion problem from a radar perspective, and describes a number of possible
approaches to its solution both from technical and regulatory points of view. These include
improved transmitter spectral purity, passive radar, and intelligent, cognitive approaches that
dynamically optimize spectrum use.
University College London, UK h.griffiths@ieee.org
Radar Division, Naval Research Laboratory eric.mokole@nrl.navy.mil,
lawrence.cohen@nrl.navy.mil
Thales, UK simon.watts@uk.thalesgroup.com
Ohio State University baker@ece.osu.edu
University of Dayton michael.wicks@udri.udayton.edu
University of Kansas sdblunt@ittc.ku.edu
