Radar ECCM: A European Approach

The radar designer must optimize parameters for performance in electronic countermeasures (ECM) and avoid any constraints which could be exploited by ECM. ECM/electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) strategy must take into account electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) including enemy EMC. Electronic scanning improves search performance, but also reduces ECCM performance in other ways. While electronic scanning avoids some constraints, it imposes others, particularly in the frequency domain. It is argued that simple radars of good performance may be as cost effective in ECM as more complex systems. Some examples of recent developments are given.     

Demographics of principal investigators involved in NASA-funded research

This report presents the findings of a study of 2875 principal investigators identified through a database maintained by NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications. It was found that there will be a major ‘retirement wave’ involving the loss of approximately 1200 of these experienced scientists within the next 15 years. A manpower crisis can apparently only be averted by reversing the exodus from space science that occurred after the end of the Apollo programme.     

Review of United Kingdom Radar

A review of primary radar systems in the United Kingdom that have recently entered service or are at an advanced stage of development is presented. Naval, airborne, and land-based types are all discussed covering both civil and military interests, although particular emphasis is given to airborne equiipments. Some general supporting radar technology includini! titiversity programs is also covered.     

Modular Stores Management System

Advanced Military aircraft operational requirements demand an ever increasing variety and quantity of Stores, coupled with continuous improvement in mission success, safety of operation, aircrew and groundcrew workload, interoperability and ground support facilities. Until now these ever more demanding requirements have been met by costly customized stores management system designs. GEC Avionics has surveyed the potential SMS requirements of a comprehensive range of aircraft and weapon types, in order to define a universal SMS design concept based on system availability, integrity and reliability, operational functions, peripheral interfaces and maintenance/human factors. This advanced concept not only includes provision for all existing weapon types but also has growth potential for the evolving MIL-STD-1760 weapon interfaces. System interface requirements have been rationalized in order to achieve a Modular Stores Management System (MSMS) design based on major factors such as cost, mission requirements and customer specifications. The key work for a successful MSMS design is flexibility and GEC Avionics has evolved a set of standard modules which can be packaged to satisfy specific customer needs. Typically, the standard modules provide over 80% of the hardware in every Stores Management application. The MSM concept features much reduced development costs and timescales, commonality between aircraft types minimizing parts inventory, VLSI technology providing high reliability and a common product support and maintenance philosophy. The MSM design offers a highly cost effective low risk concept for meeting the needs of modernization and new aircraft programs.