Hardware and software solutions ward off EW threats

The use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) by the defence industry, which includes radar at RF, microwave and millimeter wave frequencies, continues to advance, exposing military personnel and assets to potential threats. EW systems need to anticipate adversary threats and generate countermeasures in this challenging environment.

As a result, threat simulation technologies must be able to replicate realistic EMS environments to validate EW system capabilities and identify potential risks.

To address a growing range of threats, Keysight is introducing two commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products.

Simulation View software enables the rapid development, integration and test of sophisticated EW systems with real-time RF modeling and dynamic high-fidelity visualisation.

UXG Agile Vector Adapter is now available in 20GHz, 40GHz and 44GHz versions, which combine fast frequency, phase and amplitude, and time delay switching speeds with real-time pulse descriptor word (PDW) streaming. PDW is the data used for creating radar signals.

The combination of Keysight's COTS products provides customers with metrology-grade testing capabilities to deliver high quality repeatable results, while reducing lead time and costs.

These products, and the support of open interfaces and architecture, offer customers EW threat simulation solutions ranging from single bench top testing to full scale threat simulator. Scalability, coupled with the ability to reconfigure the system to utilize RF test assets effectively, delivers a modernised EW test and evaluation solution.

"Keysight understands that our customers need solutions that can maintain pace with the accelerating evolution of the EW threat environment," said Greg Patschke, general manager of Keysight's Information Warfare Group. "We will continue to partner with our customers to create and deliver rapidly adaptable solutions that help them advance their labs to the next level of testing."

The open architecture of Keysight's EW threat simulation solutions enables customers to create scenarios with a variety of software tools, often utilising a customer's existing threat databases.  Customers can also choose the software tool that best fits their EW test needs for pre-scripted or dynamic real-time threat generation, or both. 

The solutions decrease potential for user error with automated threat simulator calibration.

They have reliable interchangeable parts, which simplify repair with no tuning/matching of components or modules.

A commercial upgrade path, offers the ability to remain up-to-date with firmware and software enhancements to utilise assets as threats continue to evolve.

All products are covered by a 1,3,5,10-year warranty and cost-effective support and repair