Radar Design
Modern radar design is subject to the continual push of new technologies. For example, old, high power magnetron systems are being replaced with new, solid-state radar designs using advanced synthesis and processing techniques. To react to this technology step change, companies need to have both the experience of radar design and the knowledge of modern consumer electronics architectures.
Plextek is well placed to help radar manufacturers and radar users make the transition to the latest technologies. Plextek has extensive experience of radar design, in a wide range of areas including: FMCW radar, pulse Doppler radar, phased array radar, avionics radar and mono-pulse systems.
Plextek is able to deliver a complete radar design, or to develop and supply modules that form subsystems within a radar. For example, we have designed and supplied highly accurate frequency synthesisers with fast switching times for avionics radars.
Our own Blighter ground surveillance radar is a highly reliable, fully solid-state, electronic scanning radar. The system and all of the modules were designed and proven by Plextek’s engineering team.
In addition to the internal radar product developments described above, Plextek has undertaken radar design and development for a range of clients. Examples of the projects undertaken include:
- Design and supply of flight qualified synthesiser subsystems for avionics radar
- Architecture development of wide band gain/phase control modules for a range of active phased array radars
- Real time signal processing for a mono-pulse application
- Technology insertion for obsolescence management
- Development of DSP based multi-channel receivers
- Development of microwave subsystems for transmit/receive functions
The skills that make Plextek well suited to assisting clients with the development of radar systems and 
subsystems include:
- Radar system level design
- Microwave and mm-wave engineering
- Full-custom GaAs MMIC design
- Signal processing algorithm development and implementation
- Data processing software design and implementation
- Design of electronic equipment for defence applications
- Design for manufacture
- Many years of engineering experience in radar system design and implementation
If you would like to discuss how Plextek can help with your radar design requirements please contact us.
