Radar and Electronic Warfare Principles for the Non-Specialist (Radar, Sonar and Navigation)
This book presents a comprehensive set of radar and electronic warfare principles including many of the latest applications in a clear and consistent manner.
Following on from the 3rd edition of this book (2004) Radar and Electronic Warfare Principles for the Non-specialist, 4th Edition, remains true to the traditional strength of the book, providing radar principles for the non-specialist, and also now introducing EW principles. All radar-related material has been reviewed, revised and enhanced as necessary.
New to this edition:
- Significant revisions to; target signal-to-noise ratio, target detection theory, array antennas, radar measurements and tracking, and target signatures
- The addition of new EW-related material addressing electronic support (ES), electronic attack (EA), and electronic protection (EP)
- The advanced radar concepts chapter has been revised, including the addition of a section on modern multi-function, -mode, -mission radar systems.
- Most of the chapters are stand-alone allowing the reader to be selective and still benefit from the content.
- Exercises at the end of each chapter are provided to reinforce the concepts presented and illustrate their applications, making this book ideal for academic learning, training courses or self-study.
Topics covered include: electromagnetic propagation, target detection, antennas, measurements and tracking, radar cross section and system applications.
By reading this book, you should expect to be able to conduct a respectable, first-order radar system design or analysis and perform a first-order EW system design or analysis. This book will also provide you with the skills to critique the designs or analysis of others.
Why Read This Book
You will gain a clear, practical grounding in radar and electronic warfare concepts without getting lost in excessive theory—ideal if you need to apply these ideas to systems or signal-processing tasks. The book emphasizes up-to-date radar measurement, detection, array and EW topics and ties them to the DSP methods (FFT, filtering, spectral analysis, adaptive methods) you actually use in practice.
Who Will Benefit
Engineers and technically trained practitioners (early-career to mid-career) working in radar, EW, communications or signal-processing roles who need a practical, system-level understanding of radar/EW principles and relevant DSP techniques.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Undergraduate-level familiarity with calculus, basic electromagnetics and antennas, signals and systems (Fourier/FFT, convolution), and introductory probability/statistics; prior MATLAB or Python experience is helpful but not required.
Key Takeaways
- Analyze radar system performance by applying the radar equation, SNR concepts, and statistical detection theory to real scenarios
- Design and evaluate matched filters, pulse-compression waveforms, and FFT-based processors for range/Doppler processing
- Apply spectral analysis, windowing and wavelet concepts to characterize signals and signatures for target detection and classification
- Implement array-processing concepts including beamforming and direction-of-arrival estimation to improve spatial resolution and interference rejection
- Assess and counter common EW techniques (jamming, deception) and understand electronic support measures and receiver vulnerability
- Use adaptive filtering and clutter-suppression strategies to enhance target detection in challenging environments
Topics Covered
- 1. Introduction: radar and electronic warfare — roles and system overview
- 2. Electromagnetic propagation, antennas and radar cross section
- 3. The radar equation, noise, and signal-to-noise ratio
- 4. Statistical detection theory and false-alarm/threshold design
- 5. Waveforms, matched filtering and pulse compression
- 6. Range, Doppler processing and FFT-based spectral methods
- 7. Clutter, MTI, and adaptive filtering for clutter suppression
- 8. Array antennas, beamforming and direction-of-arrival estimation
- 9. Tracking algorithms and data association
- 10. Target signatures, classification and measurement techniques
- 11. Electronic warfare fundamentals: ES, EA, and EP concepts
- 12. Jamming, deception, countermeasures and receiver vulnerabilities
- 13. Signal processing techniques for EW: detection, classification and mitigation
- 14. Radar/EW measurements, test methods and instrumentation
- Appendices: mathematical background, reference tables and practical examples
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
Covers practical system-level radar and EW principles similar in intent to Skolnik's 'Introduction to Radar Systems' but more concise for non-specialists and adds EW material comparable to David Adamy's electronic warfare texts with less operational depth and more emphasis on signal-processing concepts.
