Radar Altimeter

Short Name or Variable Name:

radar altimeter

HAIS Instrument:

TABS

Description

Model:

RT-1438/APN-232(V) CARA

Measurements Provided:

Geometric (Radar) Altitude above the underlying surface (HGM232)

General Description:

The Altitude Radar is a FM CW system that determine altitude from zero to 50,000 feet. The output of the transmitter is a swept CW frequency from 4.24 GHz to 4.36 GHz or 4.3 GHz +/- 60 MHz. The Maximum power output of the transmitter is 1 watt, Track power of the antenna is attenuated or adjusted to 10dB above receiver noise.
The CARA system covers an altitude of 0 to 50,000 feet which is broken into seven segments as listed below.
*Segment Altitude Sweep Time(m/sec)
*0 0-1000 0.396
*1 1000-2000 0.791
*2 2000-4000 1.582
*3 4000-8000 3.164
*4 8000-16000 6.348
*5 16000-32000 12.657
*6 32000-50000 25.319
Precision: Analog +/- 2 ft, +/- 2%
Operating angle 65% bank, 45 Deg Pitch
Frequency 4.3 GHz
Type of Transmission fmcw
Temperature Range -55 Deg C to +71 Deg C

Measurement Characteristics:

see General Description

Contacts

Lead Contact:

Kurt Zrubek

Status/Plans

Current Location:

C-130

Operational Status:

still under development and not requestable

Serial Numbers

Property Tag and/or Serial Number:

S/N 9197 PPE ?, S/N 4431 PPE11410