Vera E to Vera NG Upgrade

(4th to 5th Generation)

Libor Slezák
Vera E Operation

NATO Exercise Norway

Vera E

Up the hill climb

NATO Exercise Norway

Page 3
Lesson Learned

Vera Next Gen

NATO Exercise Norway

Page 4
Vera Next Gen
Last Mile Delivery

NATO Exercise
Norway

Page 5
4th Gen. Vera-E Antennas
 5th Generation Antennas

Four clover design printed lightweight antenna sharing both polarisations in one aperture

Horizontal Fan Beam Linear Array

Page 7
Energy redistribution
in elevation towards
Cosec2

Page 8
 Integrated directional
coupler to test signal
injection

Antenna Array Power and Phase

Distribution

Page 9
 5th Generation Antennas

Integration of all antennas 50 MHz - 18 GHz including front ends

into one LRU

Radio transparent
VHF/UHF Antennas

Page 10
 5th Generation Components

Line Replaceable Units (LRU)

Receiver 50 MHz - 18 GHz
(2 independent sets,
each set 50 MHz – 1 GHz
Receiver SSR/IFF works with and 1 GHz – 18 GHz running in parallel,
LS + RS antennas summed to Each receiver works with dedicated antenna)
vertical polarization

Vera E: Analogue solution with crystal detector

Single polarization, Single IF band 250 MHz
SSR/RL alternating

Vera NG: Digital solution

All polarizations, Dual IF + Dual Receivers in all stations
SSR/All RL sharing
Page 11
 Antenna Unit UMM + Microwave Link MWL MWL1
DC motor
AED
AU Azimuth AU Driver
Azimuth actuator
sensor Controller,
2 Ch. IFF/SIF Receiver DSSR Clinometer AED Azimuth sensor
MW Link Elevation actuator

Signal Processing
Driver Controller Elevation sensor
Front-end 1 ÷ 2 GHz control 2 CH A/D RS 485 DC 24 V
Antenna System (AS) BPF LNA 1 x 1090 MHz 2xIF Converters

(FPGA)
1 x 1030 MHz (100MS, 14 bit)
1030 / 1090 MHz RF / IF Stage Control DC 24 V
Data MW Link 1
RS = Right Slant (45 Deg) Local Clock
Sync Video Data RX
LS = Left Slant (45 Deg) BPF LNA Oscillator Generator

RS DC 24 V

1 ÷ 2 GHz
Antenna
RS 485
LS MW Link 1
HSXO 10 Control
Tx

Data Preprocessing & Interface Module (CCB)

DC 24 V

50 MHz – 18 GHz RS
BPF LNA
10 MHz
Reference

Front-
Oscillator 10 MHz

2÷4
GHz

end
2 ÷ 4 GHz
LNA

Digital Solution
BPF

Antenna
LS DC 24 V MWL2
Radar Receiver 1 (DRSRE)
In 6 Bands RS
BPF LNA
Local Oscillator DC 24 V AED
MW Link 1
Azimuth actuator
Azimuth sensor
Elevation actuator

4 ÷ 8 GHz
Antenna
Driver Controller

Front-
4÷8
Elevation sensor

GHz

end
LS BPF LNA control
1 – 18 GHz
2 x dual A/D
RF / IF Stage Control
IF/ I Converters
DC 24 V
(1000MS, 12 bit) Data 1 MW Link 1
IF/Q Signal Processing Data 2 Video Data RX
50 MHz – 500 MHz RS BPF LNA (FPGA) Sync
8 ÷ 18 GHz
Antenna

LS control

Front-
8 ÷ 18
RS 485

GHz

end
50 – 1000 MHz A/D Converter MW Link 1
500 MHz – 1000 MHz
BPF LNA
Control
RF / IF Stage IF (250 MS, 16 bit) Tx
DC 24 V

1 GHz - 2 GHz 10 MHz REF

10 MHz
MWL3
Radar Receiver 2 (DRSRE)
2 GHz - 4 GHz Test Signal
Generator
TSG TSG Modulation
TSG Control
Local Oscillator DC 24 V
AED
Azimuth actuator
Azimuth sensor

4 GHz - 8 GHz RS BPF LNA BPF

1 – 18 GHz
control
2 x dual A/D
TSG Modulation
TSG Control
MW Link 1
Driver Controller
Elevation actuator
Elevation sensor
500 ÷ 1000 MHz

TSG
RF / IF Stage Control
RF IF/ I Converters
Antenna

8 GHz - 18 GHz
Data 1
SWITCH (1000MS, 12 bit)
(Driven by RF Data 2 DC 24 V
LS BPF TSG LNA BPF cable / 3 DC
IF/Q Signal Processing Sync MW Link 1
levels) (FPGA)
Video Data RX

+ RS
BPF TSG LNA BPF
50 – 1000 MHz
control
A/D Converter
RS 485
RF / IF Stage IF (250 MS, 16 bit) MW Link 1
50 ÷ 500 MHz

1090 MHz SSR Rx S2 Control

Antenna

BPF TSG LNA BPF RF Tx

DC 24 V
SWITCH
LS (Driven by RF
S2 cable / 3 DC
BPF TSG LNA BPF levels) Fibre optic
Converters

24 V DC Power Supply

FX RS 485 Rx
FX RS 485 Tx
BPF TSG LNA BPF
UHF Front-End
Distributor Module (PSP)

Data CH 0.1
Data CH 0.2
Data SRS1
Data SRS2
Data SRS3
UHFE

Command &
Power Supply Filter, Overvoltage Protection

Control
DC 24 V
Power Supply

Page 12 DC 24 V / 200 W Central Receiving

Fiber Optic cables
Fiber Optic cable
to Control Panel
Station
to CPS (2 cables)
 The Bandwidth Combination Possible
4 x 250 MHz (1 GHz) Instan taneous Ban dwid th

Receiver 1 - „Low Mirror“ Sub-Band Receiver 1 - „High Mirror“ Sub-Band

(250 MHz / -3dB) LO – 125 MHz LO + 125 MHz (250 MHz / -3dB)
LO
DRSRE 1
LO – 375 MHz LO + 375 MHz

250 MHz

Receiver 2 - „Low Mirror“ Sub-Band Receiver 2 - „High Mirror“ Sub-Band

(250 MHz / -3dB) LO – 125 MHz LO + 125 MHz (250 MHz / -3dB)
LO
DRSRE 2
LO – 375 MHz LO + 375 MHz

Page 13
 2 x 250 MHz Instantaneous Band for
2 x 250 MHz Signal Analysis
tracking

Target Tracking 500 MHz

AU0

250 MHz 250 MHz 250 MHz Signal Analysis

250 MHz
LO2
F2 F1
LO1
F3 F4
Frequency Survey 2000 MHz
AU1

250 MHz 250 MHz 250 MHz

250 MHz
LO3 LO1

LO4
250 MHz 250 MHz
AU2

250 MHz
250 MHz
LO1
AU3

250 MHz 250 MHz 250 MHz

250 MHz
LO5 LO1

Page 14
8 x 250 MHz Band for Frequency Survey
 4 x 250 MHz Instantaneous Band for
tracking

250 MHz 250 MHz

AU0
LO1
LO2
250 MHz 250 MHz

Target Tracking +
250 MHz 250 MHz
NCTI 1000 MHz
only

AU1
LO1
250 MHz
LO2
250 MHz
(Full Band Mode)

250 MHz 250 MHz

AU2

LO1
LO2
250 MHz 250 MHz

250 MHz 250 MHz

AU3

LO1
LO2
250 MHz 250 MHz
Page 15
 Two Receivers Inside one replaceable box 50 MHz – 18 GHz

Page 16
 Timing

All processes in antenna unit including LOs are controlled by local clock
with defined stability (Allan variations below 3.E-12/100 sec)
All time measurement are performed with 3.125 ns time discrete

Page 17
 Data Transfer

Vera E:
Mixed Analogue and digital data transfer
TOA, PW – analogue, CF, Amp. – digital TOA Data as PDW

Vera NG: PW
Full digital data transfer
TOA referenced to the sync. pulse emitted with 6.6 ms period

Higher probability of detection especially in Mode S

(no need of adding SIF/IFF receiver into tuning plan)
 VERA-NG

VERA-E

Antenna unit is separable from communication unit on site

MW Link are steerable in 360° azimuth independently on system antennas
System antennas are steerable in 360° in azimuth independently on MW Links
 1x 3x
Central Side
Maintenance - LRU
 5th Generation Antenna Unit

Compact design
Passive cooling up to the A1 region according to STANAG 2895

Page 22
Passive Cooling by Chimney Effect

Cooling Air Outlets

Cooling Air Inlets

 Microwave Link Upgrade

Increased Bandwidth
PW 150 ns -> 50 ns
BW 6.66 Mb/s -> 20 Mb/s

360° Azimuth steering

Increased Tx power
20 -> 100 mW

Page 26
Page 27
 Up to 30 km, 5 ÷ 15 Km rec ommended
Up to 30 km, 5 ÷ 15 Km rec ommended
Up to 30 km, 5 ÷ 15 Km rec ommended

Sid e Receiving Station SRS1 Sid e Receiving Station SRS2 Sid e Receiving Station SRS3

UMM 1 UMM 2 UMM 3 UMM 4

Left-slant polarised Right-slant polarised Left-slant polarised Right-slant polarised Left-slant polarised Right-slant polarised Left-slant polarised Right-slant polarised
Antenna Subsystem Antenna Subsystem Antenna Subsystem Antenna Subsystem Antenna Subsystem Antenna Subsystem Antenna Subsystem Antenna Subsystem

B ot h B ot h B ot h
Bot h Subsyst em S ubsyst em S ubsyst em
S ubsyst ems used used used
used
Pre amp . Pre amp . Pre amp . Pre amp . Pre amp . Pre amp . Pre amp . Pre amp .

RF RF RF RF RF RF RF RF

Rece iving Rece iving Rece iving Rece iving Rece iving Rece iving Rece iving Rece iving
Sub syste m 1 Sub syste m 2 Sub syste m 1 Sub syste m 2 Sub syste m 1 Sub syste m 2 Sub syste m 1 Sub syste m 2

IF/ I IF/Q Control IF/ I IF/Q Control IF/ I IF/Q Control IF/ I IF/Q Control IF/ I IF/Q Control IF/ I IF/Q Control IF/ I IF/Q Control IF/ I IF/Q Control

Co ntro l & Co ntro l & Co ntro l & Co ntro l & Co ntro l & Co ntro l & Co ntro l & Co ntro l &
Pre pro ces sing Pre pro ces sing Pre pro ces sing Pre pro ces sing Pre pro ces sing Pre pro ces sing Pre pro ces sing Pre pro ces sing
Sub syste m Sub syste m Sub syste m Sub syste m Sub syste m Sub syste m Sub syste m Sub syste m

Video Video Data Data Data Data Data Data

Data Comman d Data Comman d Comman d Comman d
& Control & Control & Control & Control
Data
Data C on cen trator, Data C on cen trator, Data C on cen trator, Data C on cen trator,
In / Out Mo du le In / Out Mo du le In / Out Mo du le In / Out Mo du le

Data & RS 485 Data & RS 485 Data & RS 485

RS232 RS232
Control RS232 Control Control
DC DC 24 V DC 24 V DC 24 V
24 V Mic rowa we Mic rowa we Mic rowa we
Command and Control

Microwawe
Link 1 Link 1 Link 2 Link 3
RS 485
RS232

Man ual Man ual Man ual

Data CRS0.1
Data CRS0.0

Data SRS3.1
Data SRS1.1
Data SRS2.1

Microwawe Po intin g Po intin g Po intin g

Link 2
Man ual
Po intin g

Microwawe
Link 3 Dedicated single mode optical fibers link
SRS1.2
Total time latency stability < 3 ns p.p.
Comman d and Control 1
SRS2.2
Comman d and Control 2
( 5 ps/km/°C)
SRS3.2
Comman d and Control 3
Attenuation margin 10 dB – 28 dB
Central Processing Station CPS Command Car Remote Display
Maximal delay 300 μs (60 km)
Signal Processor ERA
Mixed operation available
Hyp erbo lic
Dis play
Remote Display ERA
Tracking Subsystem

PC1 (Trac k-Processor)

P C4
PC2 (Surv.-Processor) Offline Analisys
RD (C2Display) C2 Situatio n
PC3 (Signal Patern
Processor) Dis play
Surve illanc e Signa l P attern C2 Situatio n
PC4 (HY P-Processor) Dis play Dis play Dis play RD
PC5 (C2Display)
P C2 P C3 P C5

GbE/
GbE/ LAN
LAN System Outpu t System Inpu t

Page 28
CP S Rack CP S O perator s Conso le Remote Display Rack RD O perator s C onsol e
 AIS – Automatic Identification System

Widely used self

organizing
system with no
provider

162 MHz
GMSK
9.6 kbps

Page 29
 http://www.marinetraffic.com/

Page 30
 COTS AIS Independent Receiver

The output is displayed on C2 Display as an independent layer

Page 31
 Sound Monitor Redesign from HW to SW
solution using standard Audio Card

SW Solution, which allows:

• On line sound monitoring

• Recorded signals sound monitoring
• Remote console sound monitoring
• Input channel selection
• Two independents outputs
Page 32
 Operating System Change

Vera E: QNX

Vera NG: MS Windows

• Higher level of security at file access and workplace access

• More options of system logs
• Remote desktop technology available
• More screens available
 Databases

System allows parallel NCTI based on 2 EDBs, different

purposes-usage can be applied

1. Working DB/Official DB:

The official EDB serves as base to NCTI delivered to HQ. The
working one serves to operators new entries tests.

2. Theater DB/Reference DB:

Combination of specific Theater DB and general Reference
DB.

3. Vera DB/Other sources DB etc.

Page 34
 C2 Display Upgrade

Page 35
 C2 Display

• Target alarm based on call sign or other prioritized items in database

• System of warning which is signaled on the display and sound
• Capability to display multiple (Vera NG and external) surveillance sources (independent layers)
• ASTERIX compatible - including AST CAT 34/48 and CAT1/2
• The background map vector formats to C2D supported:
• DTED 1,2, ESRI GRID, TIFF, IMG, NATO – CADRG, NATO-ADRG
• Mode S database implemented
• Automatic history data export (.csv) after track termination
• Up to 3 track tables for each map window
• Offline windows for post mission analysis

Page 36
 Feature VERA-NG VERA-E
Various carriers and masts according to customer’s demands
Mobility Dedicated carrier and mast (taylor designed)
(customizable)
Remotely controlled in the range of 360 deg (synchronously at Manual on ground only before mast erection with MW Links
Antenna system bearing adjustment
all sites) independent from MW Link alignment disalignment

Handling and manipulation Without mechanization (handling by crew) Mechanization necessary (handling by crane)

Frequency range 50 MHz – 18 GHz 380 MHz – 18 GHz

Timing Granularity 3.125 ns 12.5 ns

Receivers concept Digital with both mixing products processing Analog (mono bit)

Antennas concept Dual polarization (shared aperture) Single polarization

Antenna unit power consumption (central/side) 210/130 W 340/260 W

Mw Link pointing range 0 - 360 deg independently from System Antenna alignment ± 60 deg

Antenna unit concept Mw Link separable Mw Link fixed inside

Operational system Windows QNX

Data connection from central antenna unit to central processing

Optical (EMI and static discharges resistant) Metallic
station
Data connection from side antenna units to central processing
Microwave/Optical Microwave
station

(ᴓ500 mm x 1200 mm) + (ᴓ 500 mm x 520 mm) ᴓ1050 mm x 2192 mm

Antenna unit overall dimensions and weight
85 kg + 25 kg 300 kg
Questions ?

Page 38