Active millimeter wave simulator for missile seeker evaluations

TLDR: In this article, an active millimeter wave simulator for the evaluation of a target-sensor system is presented, where the seeker signals as received by the active antenna elements are supplied to a millimeter-wave spectrum analyzer for determination of their frequency.

Abstract: An active millimeter wave simulator for missile seeker evaluations wherein a missile seeker generates seeker signals and transmits them in the direction of an array of active antenna elements. Range timing signals are delayed in a time delay circuit to simulate a range between the missile seeker and a target. The seeker signals as received by the active antenna elements are supplied to a millimeter wave spectrum analyzer for determination of their frequency. A computer receives the determined frequency and controls a millimeter wave source to generate simulated target response signals with that same frequency but delayed in accordance with the time delay signal. The computer controls a master target control circuit to select a triad of antennas in the antenna array and to generate a phase center in the triad generating the target response signals. The millimeter wave spectrum analyzer further determines the frequency of the target response signals. The computer compares the frequencies of the target response signals and the missile seeker signals and controls the millimeter wave source to ensure correspondence between those frequencies.