505th Command & Control Wing
Gateway to Operational Excellence
Obstruction Analysis:
Protecting Radar Detection
Capabilities
84th Radar Evaluation Squadron
28 Apr 09
Overview
Squadron Background
Long-Range Radar/Joint Program Office (LRR/JPO)
Mission
AD/DHS Assets (Nevada Region)
Obstructions/Assessment Process
Radar Performance Impacts
Performance Impact Examples
Target Detection (ARSR-4)
Target Detection/Clutter (ARSR-2)
Target Detection/Clutter (ARSR-3)
Future Initiatives
Gateway to Operational Excellence
Squadron Background
84 RADES mission
Performance monitoring
Radar survey and placement
Sensor evaluation/optimization
C2 system test and validation
Radar data infrastructure
Software engineering
Obstruction analysis cell
Established cell in June 06
in support of LRR/JPO
Perform technical
assessments, testing and
desktop studies
Support USAF, DoD, DHS
and FAA initiatives
Gateway to Operational Excellence
LRR/JPO Mission
Support Air Defense (AD) and
Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) missions throughout CONUS
Primary focus is on the AD/DHS radar
networks
Joint use long-range
radars (ARSR-4,
ARSR-3, ARSR-1/2
and FPS-20 series)
FAA and DoD short-
range radars
Tethered Aerostat
Radar System (TARS)
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AD/DHS Assets (Nevada Region)
Several AD/DHS radars in
Nevada
Angel Peak (AN/FPS-20E)
Fallon (AN/FPS-66A)
Battle Mountain (ARSR-2)
Reno (ASR-8)
McCarran Intl (ASR-9)
Adjacent radars in
neighboring states
Low-level coverage areas
(yellow regions)
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Obstructions/Assessment Process
Obstruction categories
Wind turbines RADES technical assessment
Large diameter structures
(i.e., buildings, tanks, etc…)
CONR/NORAD AMOC/DHS
Small diameter structures
(i.e., towers, antennas, etc…)
Assessment process Operations responses
sent to LRR/JPO to
develop consolidated
LRR/JPO assessment process analyzes response
potential impact to AD/DHS radars
Functions within the FAA Obstruction Consolidated response
sent to USAF OE/AAA
Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis Program Manager
(OE/AAA) process
FAA OE/AAA
Program Office
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Obstructions/Assessment Process
Assessed on a case-by-case basis
Consider technical and operational impact to
air picture
Based on AD/DHS mission requirements
Mitigation strategies
Engage with proponents and explore viable
mitigation options while ensuring mission
requirements
Working example: Fossil OR
DoD Preliminary Screening Tool
accessible on FAA OE/AAA website
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Radar Performance Impacts
Wind turbines (primary concern)
Target detection -- degrades the radar’s ability to identify a
target (Doppler aspect)
Clutter -- reduces operator’s (or C2 system) ability to track
targets
Screening -- reduces radar coverage volume
Beacon false targets
Large diameter structures
Screening and beacon false targets
Small diameter structures
Screening and beacon false targets
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Performance Impacts
(Examples)
Gateway to Operational Excellence
Target Detection (ARSR-4)
Gateway to Operational Excellence
Target Detection/Clutter (ARSR-2)
Wind turbine interference at signal processing level
Demonstrates moving target indicator (MTI) performance
Includes received signals from wind turbines,
traditional clutter and synthetic targets
Wind
Turbines
Traditional
Clutter Synthetic
Targets
Normal MTI
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Target Detection/Clutter (ARSR-3)
Target Detection Degradation ExampleShow.pps
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Future Initiatives
Restore/maintain optimal radar performance and
corresponding operational air picture
Explore modifications to radars that help mitigate the adverse
effects of wind turbine interference (i.e., CARSR)
Re-optimize radars with consideration of the wind turbine
issue
Establish wind turbine siting guidance
Develop guidance to minimize adverse impacts to radars
With consideration to radar type and site specific parameters
Wind turbine assessment tools
Develop more sophisticated radar modeling applications --
increase the analyst’s capability to assess performance
impacts
Quantify impact (extent and degree) to radar performance and
corresponding air picture
Gateway to Operational Excellence
Questions?
Protecting defense assets while supporting the
development of renewable resources
Gateway to Operational Excellence