Radar response of missile-shaped targets

This paper concerns the analysis and measurement of the RCS of missile-shaped targets. Physical optics and the uniform theory of diffraction are used to determine the frequency-domain RCS at various incident and roll angles. A discrete inverse Fourier transform with a Kaiser-Bessel window then gives the corresponding time-domain response. This determines the magnitude and location of the major target scattering centres. The resulting target scattering centre parameters are used in a simulation to predict the performance of an HRR (high range resolution) radar. The input to the simulation includes, in addition to the magnitude and location of the individual scattering centres of the missile, the clutter level, the speed of the target and radar parameters such as number of frequencies, starting frequency, frequency step, and percentage phase noise. Conclusions are drawn on the feasibility of recognising targets with the proposed HRR radar.