Simulation of chaff cloud radar cross section

Chaff finds its main applications in electromagnetic countermeasures. A cloud of chaff is a diffuse artificial target made up of half-wave resonant dipoles. The study of electromagnetic scattering by a chaff cloud is so complex that no exact theory is currently available for describing well all the phenomena observed. A chaff cloud simulation developed by LACROIX/CESTA for the French Ministry of Defence (DGA) is presented. It shows how the authors have overcome the difficulties of modelling chaff clouds to reproduce realistic scattered signals in all polarisation states, taking into account chaff fluctuations and multipaths on the sea surface. The software is able to characterize battle ship autoprotection systems under operational configurations. Such a modelling can now be used to evaluate the performance of seekers jamming.