[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 191 (Monday, November 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1173-E1174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            FUTURE OF RADAR

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                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 1, 2021

  Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight important research 
being conducted by the University of Oklahoma, which is advancing 
cutting-edge developments in the areas of Air Defense Artillery, air 
dominance, ocean surveillance, ISR, EW, counter-UAS, GMTI, and a host 
of others. The developments I refer to center most directly in the 
budding area of all-digital radar.
  New capabilities associated with all-digital radar present an 
extraordinary opportunity for the United States to better utilize 
important data for national security purposes, be it weather data, 
flight control data, projectile data, targeting data or any other type, 
to our tactical and operational advantage--land or sea.
  Madam Speaker, in the area of distributed radar and 360-degree, all-
digital, phased array radars, there are extraordinary leap-ahead 
capabilities which cannot be ignored. By bringing to bear advances in 
digital signal processing, artificial intelligence, and machine 
learning to the data streams that this new technology provides, the 
defense of the United States can be significantly advanced, providing 
leapfrog capabilities which vastly exceed those of our legacy radars.
  Over time, all of the services have been engaged in developing 
capabilities in this area, albeit at a rate that does not always 
achieve the leap-ahead and transformational requirements that we now 
require strategically as we focus on defense from potential near-peer 
adversaries. While we currently maintain many advantages, technology 
advances quickly around the globe. It is critical we maintain our edge, 
and, in doing so, obtain the generational leap-ahead needed to secure 
it.
  Madam Speaker, the Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC) in Norman, 
Oklahoma, has conducted very significant research in this area. A 
component of the University of Oklahoma's research enterprise, the ARRC 
has generated important technological advancements to each major 
service component in the area of 360-degree phased array radars. In 
fact, to help further this contribution, I am supporting a National 
Defense Authorization Act proposal this year, initiated in the Senate, 
which encourages the Army Research Lab to collaborate with academia in 
the development of distributed radars and multi-function sensors. This 
is an area where I believe there will be plenty of bipartisan and 
bicameral support.
  Madam Speaker, Army Research Lab in many ways has stepped forward for 
the Army in this area. I am confident that, as the Army's Combat 
Capabilities Development Command, Army Futures Command, and the ASA/ALT 
examine what can be accomplished in this area, they will quickly 
realize the high relevance of this technology to counter-UAS, Air 
Defense Artillery, and their EW enterprise. It has the potential to be 
one of the key transformational technologies that would allow the Army 
to leverage ground forces more effectively and to provide better 
defensive capabilities against airborne threats.
  As the Department of Defense proceeds to develop technology in this 
area, we already see interest from the private sector. However, if we 
do not develop a joint approach to the development of this technology, 
it may result in it being stove-piped into systems without ever 
realizing the full extent of its capabilities. Furthermore, inability 
or unwillingness to coordinate research in this area could tax current 
supply chains and threaten the rate of development we are capable of in 
this area.
  Additionally, application of this technology is not limited solely to 
the defense enterprise. Air traffic control, weather prediction and 
analysis, 5G frequency scanning dependent communications, and remote 
sensing could all benefit; NOAA is already engaged in related research. 
Therefore, over time, it may become beneficial to create a Joint 
Interagency Working Group on the development of distributed and all 
digital radar.
  Madam Speaker, the future is bright for the development of these 
technologies in the United States. It is an area in which we can 
thrive. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and 
Senate to advance our common interests and our national defense by 
supporting the development of these technologies.

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