Range Corrections for Airborne Radar - A Joint STARS Study
Abstract
To provide accurate estimates of true target range, all airborne surveillance radars must take into account the effects of the atmospheric medium. The principal contribution to the range correction for atmospheric refractivity arises from the retardation of the propagation speed of the sensing field. Changes in atmospheric density, layer structure, and/or water vapor content, associated with geographical or weather factors, affect the magnitude of the range correction. In the present work, based primarily on USAFETAC ray trace computations performed in support of Joint STARS, range correction variability is examined using atmospheric data collected over three-month periods at Munich and Hannover in Germany, Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, and Pohang in South Korea. Range correction statistics are presented for each location, the predictive value of surface refractivity measurements is assessed, and a simple empirical formula for range correction is developed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA142363
Entities
People
- G. A. Robertshaw
Organizations
- MITRE Corporation