Anti-Tank Projectile Detection by Means of CW

Microwave Sensors and Portable Pulsed Radar

Adam Rutkowski Adam Kawalec

Institute of Radioelectronics, Institute of Radioelectronics,
Military University of Technology Military University of Technology
Warszawa, Poland Warszawa, Poland
Adam.Rutkowski@wat.edu.pl adam.kawalec@wat.edu.pl

Czesław Rećko
Institute of Radioelectronics,
Military University of Technology
Warszawa, Poland
czeslaw.recko@wat.edu.pl

Abstract — Anti-tank projectiles are very effective weapons applied in the sensor structure. A single antenna transmits and
against vehicles and other objects. In order to be effectively able receives the CW microwave signal. A ferrite circulator (FC)
to neutralize such a threat, it is crucial to detect any incoming separates the transmitter and receiver channels. Amplitude and
projectiles as early as possible. Anti-tank missiles can be detected frequency of output signal UD carry information about objects
by means of infrared and microwave sensors. In this paper, the in flight.
authors present the design of a small microwave CW sensor and
a portable pulsed radar, which were developed for anti-tank Mix
projectile detection. Further, the authors present the observed RF IF
Zo LO UD
results achieved with real anti-tank projectiles fired during field
test experiments. Ant fR fT
fR
DC
Keywords—anti-tank projectile, RPG, microwave sensor, radar, DSO
fT FC
pulsed radar, anti-projectile missile

Fig. 1. The block diagram of CW microwave sensor

I. INTRODUCTION
An anti-tank projectile has a very low radar cross section The CW sensor presented herein is a simple device built for
(RCS) [3, 4]. Such projectiles must be detected at both long investigation of anti–tank projectile detection at short
and short distance. The detection at long distances may give the distances. It consists of a transmitter based on DSO and a
vehicle crew an advance warning that their vehicle is under receiver with one mixer.
attack, and thus the opportunity to execute an appropriate
defensive measures [1, 5]. Short distance detection is required
for passing a command to decisively destroy an incoming anti-
tank projectile [2]. For these reasons, different kinds of radars
and small sensors have been developed and designed. These
attachments are intended for installation in so-called anti-
projectile missiles and for using in the anti-missile systems [6,
7].

II. SMALL CW MICROWAVE SENSOR AND PORTABLE RADAR

The scheme of the X band CW microwave sensor is shown
in Figure 1. The dielectrically stabilized oscillator (DSO),
directional coupler (DC) and frequency mixer (Mix) were
This work was co-sponsored by The National Centre for Research and Fig. 2. The view of the portable pulsed radar demonstrator in the field
Development in Poland for the years 2013 – 2017 under contract number emplacement
DOBR-BIO4/031/13249/2013.

978-83-949421-1-3 ©2018 Warsaw Univ. of Technology 315

 A portable radar demonstrator developed for the purposes
of investigating projectile detection is shown in Figure 2. It is a
X band pulsed radar with transmitter channel, two receiver
channels, acquisition unit and portable computer. The
transmitter and each of the receivers have their own separate
antenna. Such a design enables distance and direction
estimation based on single emitted and received pulse. Both,
CW sensor and radar were equipped with recorders controlled
by computers.
III. RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS
Tests were carried out in the field conditions with real
subsonic and hypersonic anti-tank projectiles. The zone of the
projectiles overflight was observed by two CW sensors and
portable radar. Both of the CW sensors have the same design as
shown in Figure 1.
Fig. 3. Exemplary output voltages UD plots from sensor MT01 and MT02
versus time
Fig. 4. Exemplary signal stored in pulsed radar demonstrator acquisition unit
The sensors used were marked MT01 and MT02. Sensor
MT01 was placed parallel to the projectile flight track, while
sensor MT02 was placed perpendicularly to this track. The
316
distance between sensors along the projectile’s track was about
2 meters. The anti-tank projectile cannon was placed about 200
m in front of CW sensors and experimental radar demonstrator.
Signals from CW sensors recorded during experiments are
presented in Figure 3. Sections A of both plots are the images
of signals, which were reflected by a flying projectile, whereas
sections B of these plots are the effects of the sound wave is
generated by the firing of the cannon and by the flying
projectile. Spectral analysis of these signals enables, among
other things, estimation of projectile velocity (from section A)
and shooting distance (from section B and from time shift
between section A and B). The radar was aimed at a cannon
and observed incoming projectiles. The signal recorded by
radar is presented in Figure 4. As it can be seen on the chart,
the flying projectile was successfully detected at a distance of
around 170 meters. Such a detection range gives enough time
for certain applications and defense measures.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The developed small CW sensors and portable pulsed radar
demonstrator are able to detect fast moving objects, such as
anti-tank projectiles. The signals recorded during the
experiments can be used to move forward with further
investigations on the development of defense systems which
would be capable of protecting high-value resources against
anti-tank missiles.
REFERENCES
[1] T. J. Meyer: „Active Protective Systems”, Armour, May-June, 1998.
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