New radar provides new and improved capabilities

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Bryan Mayo
  • 509th Communications Squadron
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The Department of Defense is in the process of upgrading its national aircraft control system, which will more efficiently and effectively manage all aircraft within the United States' airspace.

One of the critical pieces of equipment that make this upgrade work is the new Digital Airport Surveillance Radar.

The DASR was developed by Raytheon and is a terminal air traffic control radar system that replaces the current analog AN/GPN-20 radar system with much more advanced aircraft and weather detection capabilities.

Officially identified as the AN/GPN-30, this new radar system will improve reliability, provide additional weather data, reduce maintenance cost, improve performance, and provide digital data to new digital automation systems for presentation on air traffic controller displays.

The GPN-30 uses an active radar system to detect aircraft and a two-way automated radio communication system to gather aircraft identification codes and altitude.

The primary radar detects aircraft by transmitting a 25 kW electromagnetic pulse from a continuously rotating antenna and listening for an electromagnetic echo that is reflected off an aircraft.

The secondary radar uses a similar rotating antenna to communicate with an aircraft's transponder in a way that is similar to a telephone conversation. Advanced computers then filter, decode and correlate both the primary radar echoes and the secondary radar communication information to create a 360-degree representation of all aircraft within a 60-mile radius of Whiteman AFB.

In addition to aircraft detection, the GPN-30 also uses its computer processors to detect and display up to six levels of rainfall intensity.

In addition to supplying greater aircraft detection and management capabilities to the National Airspace System, the DASR will also greatly reduce the amount of money that the Air Force has to commit to maintain its radar systems.

This modern technology will also increase operational up-time with minimal maintenance requirements, ensuring that the air traffic controllers at Whiteman have uninterrupted control of its airspace.