RCS Validation of a Missile-Shaped Target at W-Band

Abstract

In a comparison of measured, simulated, and theoretical calculations of radar cross section (RCS), the radar target was a simple missile shape (a cylinder with hemispherical ends). For the measurements, the target was rotated on a turntable from 5 to 365 deg in azimuth, and its RCS was measured with a W-band frequency agile instrumentation radar. (Clutter and noise in the measured RCS data were reduced by spatial filtering.) For modeling the target geometry, the ACAD (advanced computer aided design) geometric modeling program was used to create both an IGES (initial graphics exchange specification) and a facet model. For modeling the RCS, three high frequency prediction codes were used (Xpatch, CADDSCAT, and NcPTD), as well as a point scatter model. Various methods were used to process and simulate the target returns, depending upon the aspect angle. Agreement between the measured and simulated bandwidth averaged RCS values depended on the portion of the target that dominated the radar return: agreement was close for radar returns dominated by returns from the hemispherical ends of the target. However, for aspect angles near broadside to the target (for which the cylindrical part of the target dominated the returns), RCS measurements suggested an interaction between the target and the pylons supporting it.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA336968

Entities

People

  • Geoffrey H. Goldman

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aspect Angle
  • Bandwidth
  • Computers
  • Diffraction
  • Far Field
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Instrumentation
  • Measurement
  • Near Field
  • Radar
  • Scattering
  • Standards
  • Three Dimensional
  • Turntables
  • Two Dimensional
  • W Band

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Radar Systems Engineering.