New missile scoring
radar cuts the cost of trials and training

•ultra-wide band technology boosts miss-distance accuracy of scalar scorers to 15cm/6in

Today, Cambridge Consultants Ltd (CCL) unveils a missile scoring radar that elevates the economic scalar scoring approach to radical new levels of accuracy. Based on the proven ultra-wide band (UWB) impulse radar technology that is at the heart of the world’s most widely used vector scorer, CCL’s new STAR system achieves a miss-distance accuracy of just 15cm (6inches). This is as much as twice the precision that other commercially available radar scorers can achieve, with the added dependability that pulse radar sensing's good signal-to-noise ratio offers for dealing with difficult testing situations such as low altitudes and with warhead shots.

"The introduction of ultra-wide band technology into the scalar scoring arena makes it possible to move performance forward on two fronts: miss distance precision, and elimination of a range of problems that can degrade system accuracy and reliability, including fading and glint," says CCL’s project manager, Gary Kemp.

The combination of precision and simplicity of the STAR miss-distance indicator provides a highly economic and effective solution for training and qualification testing. STAR is designed for full-scale, sub-scale, towed and missile targets. A system consists of an airborne set and ground set. The airborne set transmits raw data to the ground, where it is decompressed, decoded and recorded. Two airborne options are available: STAR-500, a dual channel scorer for use with larger targets, and STAR-550, a single-channel version for smaller targets where space and cost are at a premium, or where a single channel will give adequate coverage.

Airborne sets consist of a radar unit, telemetry transmitter, receive and transmit antennas, and power supply. Each receive antenna for scoring has two sampling channels which together surround the target with a nested set of range gates at separations of nominally 9m (~29 feet). As missile/projectile gate crossings are detected, raw data is immediately transmitted, so no data is lost even when a target is destroyed. With the short UHF-band pulses used by the radar, the system achieves an instantaneous range measurement accuracy of better than ±1cm (±0.4inch), providing a miss-distance accuracy better than 5% of closest approach, with a maximum accuracy of 15cm (6 inches) at close range.

The ground station calculates the score by analysing the time sequence of range gate crossings, to generate speed, miss-distance and point of closest approach results for each missile feature detected. STAR uses a reliable digital PCM-FM telemetry scheme that is compatible with ground sets for CCL’s existing ARMS and SMART systems – which are in service worldwide at ranges in the USA, Europe and Australia - providing existing users with a low-cost route to expanding and enhancing their missile testing facilities.


In addition to offering a higher native accuracy, CCL’s pulse radar provides significant advantages over the traditional radar technologies employed for this application. STAR’s ultra-wideband signal and range gating means that the system is highly tolerant of glint and fading effects - avoiding the drop-outs common in other radar systems. Range gating also makes the system highly immune to the saturation effects that can arise with low-altitude sea or ground clutter. Additionally, STAR will accurately score curved trajectories and deals easily with direct hits and warhead shots: the system provides highly accurate results purely from approach data alone.

Click here to download our latest STAR data sheet