MOD IV RADAR PERFORMANCE ON MINUTEMAN LAUNCHES,
Abstract
The AMR MOD IV (X-Band) Radars at Cape Canaveral have rendered consistently shorter than expected tracking coverages during MINUTEMAN missile launches. A rapid decay of the missile's reflectivity at aspect angles below 6 degrees was determined as the primary cause and is attributed to interaction by the exhaust flame. The trend of signal losses indicates that the MOD IV coverages on the MINUTEMAN missile cannot be increased by small improvements of the radar RF performance but rather by radar operation from locations which maintain aspect angles above 6 degrees. To demonstrate the MOD IV radar RF performance, tracks of the standard sphere were evaluated and compared with technically predicted capabilities. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 12, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0428938
Entities
People
- A. E. Hoffmann-heyden
- D. E. Halter