A TRIAL TO INVESTIGATE AIR-TO-AIR U.H.F. AND MICROWAVE PROPAGATION AT LOW ALTITUDE

Abstract

Flight trials in support of a Weapons Department research programme were conducted over varying types of terrain and varying sea states, to determine the suitability of U.H.F. or X-band in an air-to-air radio link capable of carrying television and command data. The results of the over sea trials accorded well with theory except that fading nulls at U.H.F. could be greater than the theoretical value. Analysis of results of over land flights indicated that at X-band most fades, and at U.H.F. many fades, could be attributed to signal reflection from metallic objects. Differences in the fading characteristics observed on various headings were attributed to the disposition of reflecting objects and to terrain screening. The results indicate that X-band offers the better performance by virtue of lower fade depths and briefer outages. Countermeasure susceptibility, aerial installation problems and costs are not considered.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0396372

Entities

People

  • H. L. Spong
  • T. E. Wynne

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Bandwidth
  • Elevation
  • Frequency
  • Ground Speed
  • Low Altitude
  • Microwave Frequency
  • Microwaves
  • Radio Links
  • Radio Waves
  • Reflection
  • Signal Generators
  • Slant Range
  • Specular Reflection
  • X Band

Readers

  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design