. "3 Needs for the Next Generation System." Evaluation of the Multifunction Phased Array Radar Planning Process. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2008.
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Evaluation of the Multifunction Phased Array Radar Planning Process
Yes. Data available in common, interoperable formats.
a Lowest 1 km of atmosphere is unsampled by aircraft surveillance radars over 70% of CONUS.
b DOD requires air traffic control radars for global deployment.
c The minimal need is for aircraft surveillance radar data readily shared among FAA, DOD, and DHS.
The radar aircraft surveillance picture is even murkier. The current systems of US civilian aircraft surveillance radars were acquired, and are operated and maintained, by FAA. These radars are used to detect and track aircraft within FAA airspace; they also provide information to the Air Force (DOD/AF) and DHS to facilitate their mission of protecting the U.S. from hostile aircraft. DOD/AF also owns airfield terminal radars and additional surveillance assets for US perimeter protection. Recently, FAA’s mission has been redirected such that FAA is now only responsible for cooperative aircraft; FAA is therefore pursuing the fielding of an independent non-radar system such as the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) (JPDO, 2005) for tracking cooperative aircraft. The current (or any future) radar aircraft surveillance system will then become only a secondary or emergency backup system for FAA. Detection and tracking of non-cooperative aircraft would become a DHS and DOD/AF mission. FAA recently turned over responsibility for the cost of operation and maintenance of the long-range aircraft surveillance radars to DOD/AF and DHS.
