A novel approach to analysing RCS of the airborne antenna

Currently, the parameter characterizing scattering performance of airborne antenna is still the free space radar cross section (free space RCS). However, without considering the coupling between antennas and the plane, this parameter does not adequately reflect the effects how the antenna affects the plane´s RCS after installation. To solve this problem, this article researches the coupling effects of the scattering fields in between. Then a new simulation program is designed to achieve the simulation of the antenna´s airborne radar cross section (airborne RCS). And the total RCS of both is achieved by two models and compared with the default results. Model one: synthesizing the antenna´s airborne RCS and the plane´s RCS; model two: synthesizing the antenna´s free space RCS and the plane´s RCS. The results show that the curve achieved from the new synthesis model is closer to the default total RCS curve. This suggests that the airborne RCS is better to reflect the characteristics of the antenna scattering performance after installation. Actual project may adopt the simulation program in this paper to predict the antenna RCS before installation. If it does so, it will save costs and shorten design cycles greatly.