Prototyping Radar and EW Systems with the Ettus USRP Software Defined Radio

Whether for ensuring the survivability of friendly platforms or for disrupting an adversary’s use of the spectrum, dominance of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is a major contributor to mission success. Electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) require tactical systems that can monitor the spectral activity of an adversary, locate emitters, and help friendly forces to formulate a plan of action. Software defined radios (SDRs) provide the flexibility needed to assess the performance of new EM techniques, and the Ettus USRP X440 SDR was developed with aerospace and defense requirements, including phase coherency and wide bandwidth, in mind.