A Photonics-Assisted Radar Jamming System With Nonuniform Interrupted Sampling

Abstract

This article presents a photonics-assisted radar jamming system utilizing two cascaded Mach–Zehnder modulators, capable of performing two distinct jamming functions with a simple architecture. With 0°–180° phase modulation, the system effectively eliminates the central false target and significantly increases the number of false targets via composite jamming of comb spectrum modulation and phase modulation. With high-speed on–off modulation, it provides jamming for ultrawideband radar systems with bandwidths of several gigahertz. In addition, nonuniform pulse trains are employed for interrupted sampling, disrupting the regular time and amplitude distribution patterns of false targets generated by traditional interrupted sampling repeater jamming, thereby reducing the likelihood of the jamming signals being detected and neutralized by radar. The experimental results demonstrate that two operating modes exhibit excellent jamming performance on 18 GHz linear frequency modulation signals with instantaneous bandwidths of 100 MHz and 4 GHz, respectively, closely matching the simulated results. The system's advantages of a simple architecture, wide operating bandwidth, and high flexibility make it well suited for modern electronic warfare.