Measurements of the Radar Cross Section and Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) Images of a Piper Navajo at 9.5 GHz and 49 GHz
Abstract
Studies were conducted of the enhanced radar cross section (RCS) and improved inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image quality that may result at millimeter-wave (mmw) frequencies. To study the potential for mmw radar in these areas, a program was initiated in FY 90 to design and fabricate a 49.0- to 49.5-GHz stepped-frequency radar. After conducting simultaneous measurements of the RCS of an airborne Piper Navajo twin-engine aircraft at 9.0 and 49.0 GHz, the RCS at 49.0 GHz was always found to be higher than at 9.0 GHz by an amount that depended on the target aspect angle. The largest increase was 19 dB and was measured at nose-on incidence; at other angles of incidence, the increase ranged from 3 to 10 dB. The increase averaged over a 360-degree aspect-angle change was 7.2 dB. The 49.0-GHz radar has demonstrated a capability to gather well- calibrated millimeter-wave RCS data of flying targets. In addition, the successful ISAR images obtainable with short aperture time suggest that 49.0-GHz radar may have a role to play in noncooperative target identification (NCTI).... Millimeter-wave(mmw) radar frequencies, Radar Cross Section(RCS) data, Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar(ISAR) images
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA267570
Entities
People
- G. Kinzel
- R. Dinger
- S. I. Jones
- W. Lam
Organizations
- Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center