Considerations on the Use of Airborne X-band Radar as a Microwave Directed-energy Weapon

Abstract. Directed-energy weapons (DEW) are devices which inflict damage upon a target by directing high intensity electromagnetic radiation over some distance, using for instance a high-energy laser (HEL) or high-power microwave source, and a focusing aperture. With recent increases in peak and average emitted power levels, X-band microwave radar is gaining the potential for use as a DEW. This paper explores a range of implementation issues arising in the application of active electronically steered array (AESA) and electronically steered array (ESA) X-band radars as directed-energy weapons. The application of circular polarisation at the radar antenna is shown to be useful for coupling power into targets, as is chirping of the radar waveform. It will be necessary to design radar modes specifically for the purpose of microwave attack, to provide the capability to interleave operator-controlled high-power emissions with necessary tracking waveforms. Estimates of achievable effect using a representative radar configuration indicate that a microwave attack regime will be effective only at short ranges.