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Radar Part2

This document provides an overview and derivation of the radar range equation. It begins by introducing the basic radar range equation and defining its components. It then develops the equation step-by-step by examining how the transmitted power, power density at the target, reflected power, power density of the echo, and power at the receiver are related. The document discusses how design factors like transmitter power, antenna gain, and receiver sensitivity impact radar range. It also explores the radar cross section of different targets and stealth aircraft design. The document concludes with an invitation for in-class exercises.

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Agung B Cahyono
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
103 views

Radar Part2

This document provides an overview and derivation of the radar range equation. It begins by introducing the basic radar range equation and defining its components. It then develops the equation step-by-step by examining how the transmitted power, power density at the target, reflected power, power density of the echo, and power at the receiver are related. The document discusses how design factors like transmitter power, antenna gain, and receiver sensitivity impact radar range. It also explores the radar cross section of different targets and stealth aircraft design. The document concludes with an invitation for in-class exercises.

Uploaded by

Agung B Cahyono
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 39

EEE381B

Aerospace Systems
& Avionics
Radar
Part 2 – The radar range equation
Ref: Moir & Seabridge 2006, Chapter 3,4

Dr Ron Smith
Outline
1. Basic radar range equation
2. Developing the radar range equation
3. Design impacts
4. Receiver sensitivity
5. Radar cross-section
6. Low observability
7. Exercises

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 2


1. Basic radar range equation
 There are many different versions of the
radar range equation.
 We will use, and fully derive, the one
presented below.

Pt G  
2 2
RMax  4
(4 ) S min
3

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 3


1.1 Components of the equation

 Rmax – the maximum range of the radar


 Pt – average power of the transmitter
 G – gain of the transmit/receive antenna
 λ – wavelength of the operating frequency
  – radar cross-section of the target
 Smin – minimum detectable signal power

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 4


1.2 Units of the equation

Pt G  
2 2
RMax  4
(4 ) S min
3

2 2
W m m
units of RMax 4 m
W

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 5


2. Developing radar range equation

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 6


2.1 Transmitted power

 Recall from the previous lecture that the


average transmitted power is a function of
peak pulse power and the pulse duration:

Ppeak 1
Pt  Pave  , where Tp 
Tp PRF
Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 7
2.2 Power density at target [4]

 Recall that power density decreases as a


function of distance traveled:

Pt G
power density at range R 
4R 2

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 8


2.3 Reflected power

 The amount of power


reflected back from a
target is a function of
the power density at the
target and the target’s
radar cross-section, :

Pt G
power density reflected  
4R 2

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 9


2.4 Power density of echo at antenna

 The power density of the returned signal, echo,


again spreads as it travels back towards the
radar receive antenna.

Pt G 
power density received at antenna  
4R 4R 2
2

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 10


2.5 Power of echo at receiver*

 The antenna captures only a portion of the


echoed power density as a function of the
receive antenna’s effective aperture:
Pt G Pt G 22
power at receiver, Pr   Ae  ,
(4 ) R
2 4
(4 ) R
3 4

G 2
recalling that Ae 
4
* In this equation the receiver is assumed to be all radar
receive chain components except the antenna.
Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 11
2.5.1 Relative power received  range

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 12


2.6 Minimum detectable signal power

 Therefore a radar system is capable of


detecting targets as long as the received echo
power is greater than or equal to the minimum
detectable signal power of the receive chain:

Pt G 22
for Pr  S min , Rmax 4
(4 ) S min
3

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 13


3. Radar design impacts
 A careful study of the radar range equation
provides further insight as to the effect of several
radar design decisions.

 In general the equation tells us that for a radar


to have a long range, the transmitter must be
high power, the antenna must be large and have
high gain, and the receiver must be very
sensitive.

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 14


3.1 Power, Pt

 Increases in transmitter power yield a


surprisingly small increase in radar range,
since range increases by the inverse fourth
power.
 For example, a doubling of transmitter peak power
results increases radar range by only 19%,

4
2  1.19

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 15


3.2 Time-on-target, /Tp

 The average power transmitted can also be


increased by increasing the pulse duty cycle,
sometimes referred to as the “time-on-target”.
 A combined doubling of the pulse width and
doubling of the transmitter peak power will give
a fourfold increase in average transmitted
power, and ~41% increase in radar range.
4
4  1.41
Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 16
3.3 Gain, G

 Antenna gain is a major consideration in the


design of the radar system.
 For a parabolic dish, doubling the antenna size
(diameter) will yield a fourfold increase in gain and a
doubling of radar range.

For a dish G  Ap or  ( D / 2) 2
and Rmax  4 G 2 or  4
D4

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 17


3.4 Receiver sensitivity, Smin
 Similar to that of transmitter power, increases in
receiver sensitivity yield relatively small
increases in radar range.
 Only 19% range increase for a halving of sensitivity,
and at the expense of false alarms.
 Receiver design is a complex subject beyond
the scope of this course, see §3.5.3.
 Simplistically, the smaller the radar pulse width,
the larger the required receiver bandwidth and
the larger the receiver noise floor.
Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 18
3.4.1 Receiver bandwidth

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 19


3.4.2 Signal-to-noise

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 20


3.4.3 Receiver threshold

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 21


4. Radar cross-section, 
 The radar cross-section of a target is a measure
of its size as seen by a radar, expressed as an
area, m2.
 It is a complex function of the geometric cross-
section of the target at the incident angle of the
radar signal, as well as the directivity and
reflectivity of the target.
 The RCS is a characteristic of the target, not the
radar.

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 22


4.1.1 RCS of a metal plate

 Large RCS, but


decreases rapidly as the
incident angle deviates
from the normal.

4a b2 2

 2

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 23


4.1.2 RCS of a metal sphere

 Small RCS, but is


independent of incident
angle.

  r 2

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 24


4.1.3 RCS of a metal cylinder

 RCS can be quite small


or fairly large depending
on orientation.

2ra 2
 , as viewed

4 r
3 4
 , from the end
 2

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 25


4.1.4 RCS of a trihedral corner reflector

 The RCS of a trihedral


(corner) is both large and
relatively independent of
incident angle.

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 26


5. Low Observability
 From the previous discussion on the radar
cross-section of targets, it should be obvious
that determining the radar cross-section of an
airplane is a complicated task.
 The art of designing an aircraft to specifically
have a low RCS is known as low observability,
or more commonly known as “stealth”.
 Stealth is a relatively new technology,
 even full RCS prediction is only 2 decades old.

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 27


5.1 History* of stealth aircraft [1]

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 28


5.2 Aircraft high RCS areas [1]

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 29


5.3 Low observability design areas [1]

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 30


5.3.1 Low observability design example[1]

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 31


5.3.2 Low observability design example[1]

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 32


5.4 Comparative RCS [1]

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 33


6. In-class exercises

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 34


6.1 Quick response exercise # 1

 Think carefully about the derivation of the


radar range equation just presented. Is
there a potentially significant loss
component missing?
 Hint: recall the simple link equation from your
very early lectures.

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 35


6.2 Quick response exercise # 2

 Why have designers of stealth aircraft


sought to blend the physical transitions /
features of the aircraft?

 Will reduction in your aircraft RCS alone


make you invisible to the enemy?
 How else might they find you?

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 36


6.3 Radar range equation calculation

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 37


6.3 Radar range equation calculation

 The US Navy AN/SPS-48 Air Search Radar is a medium-


range, three-dimensional (height, range, and bearing) air
search radar.
 Published technical specifications include:
 Operating frequency 2900-3100 MHz
 Transmitter peak power 60-2200 kW
 PRF 161-1366 Hz, and pulse widths of 9 / 3 μsec
 Phased array antenna with a gain of 38.5 dB
 For its published maximum range of 250 miles for a
nominal target such as the F-18, what is the receiver
chain sensitivity in bBm?

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 38


References
1) Moir & Seabridge, Military Avionics Systems, American Institute of
Aeronautics & Astronautics, 2006. [Sections 2.6 & 2.7]
2) David Adamy, EW101 - A First Course in Electronic Warfare, Artech
House, 2000. [Chapters 3,4 & 6]
3) George W. Stimson, Introduction to Airborne Radar, Second Edition,
SciTch Publishing, 1998.
4) Principles of Radar Systems, student laboratory manual, 38542-00, Lab-
Volt (Quebec) Ltd, 2006.
5) John C. Vaquer, US Navy Surface Officer Warfare School Documents,
Combat Systems Engineering : Radar, http://www.fas.org/man/dod-
101/navy/docs/swos/cmd/fun12/12-1/sld001.htm
6) Mark A. Hicks, "Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on
DiscoverySchool.com"

Winter 2009 EEE381B Radar range equation - 39

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