Impact of a Distributed Architecture for Space-Based Radar

Through a process of system architecture analysis, system cost modeling, and system architecture optimization, the feasibility is assessed of performing the surveillance function of the next generation airborne warning and control system mission from a space-based radar platform. A distributed operations concept is considered that reduces the size of the satellites required, increases system reliability, improves system performance, and reduces the system cost compared to monolithic designs. The system analysis methodology relies on the speciŽ cation of a set of mission performance requirements. Competing system architectures can then be compared quantitatively on the basis of a simple cost metric. The cost metric used re ects the cost to initial operating capability and consists of subsystem, reliability, and constellation components. The architecture design process minimizes the cost metric while ensuring compliance with the established performance requirements. It is shown that there is an optimal level of distribution that minimizes the cost.