TheWhite SandsRange andRange-Rate System

Thispaper discusses theconcept,design, anddesign verification of theWhiteSandsRangeandRange-Rate System. Development ofthe systemhasbeencompleted onlythroughthedesignphase. The systemisdesigned to meet requirements forhigh-accuracy midcourse tracking underseveretargetdynamics attheWhiteSands Missile Range.Itisa multistatic Doppler andrangetracker which operatesat X bandand incorporates transmitter, transponder, receiver, andbaseline subsystems. Thetransmitter includes specially designeddigital circuitry to synthesize testsignals fortarget simulation during checkout ofthesystem. Thetransponder signal is processed bya receiver whichhasbeenestablished theoretically to betheoptimumrealizable processorofcontinuous tracking data. The receiver incorporates specially designed carrier acquisition circuitry anddigital VCO,and directly provides digital Doppler and tonephasedatatofacilitate real-time processing. Thesystemutilizes datafromothertracking systemsattheRangeforspatial acquisition, foraiding carrieracquisition inthereceiver, andforresolving rangeambiguities.