Title :
Ground-to-air imaging radar for RCS measurement
Author :
Jain, Atul ; Patel, Indu
Author_Institution :
Hughes Aircraft Co., Los Angeles, CA, USA
fDate :
12/1/1992 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
ISAR images and RCS data of a Mooney 231 aircraft, obtained using an advanced portable instrumentation radar system, are presented. The Mooney 231 flew in a controlled path in both clockwise and counterclockwise orbits, and successively with gear down, flaps in the take-off position and with the speed brakes up. The radar used operates in the 7-11 GHz region, has a maximum continuous bandwidth of 4 GHz, has programmable waveforms, uses a transmitter with 200 W peak power and can be operated in a search mode with open-loop manual alignment or in an acquisition mode with a closed-loop angle and range track. The antenna configuration consists of a three-dish system, utilizing a single-polarity transmit antenna, a track receive antenna-monopulse comparator, and a dual-polarity receive antenna. The data indicate that this system is a useful tool for RCS signature diagnostics of aircraft in flight
Keywords :
air-traffic control; ground support equipment; microwave imaging; radar cross-sections; radar systems; remote sensing by radar; 200 W; 4 GHz; 7 to 11 GHz; Mooney 231 aircraft; RCS measurement; acquisition mode; clockwise orbit; counterclockwise orbits; dual-polarity receive antenna; ground to air imaging; open-loop manual alignment; portable instrumentation radar; programmable waveforms; signature diagnostics; single-polarity transmit antenna; take-off position; three-dish system; track receive antenna-monopulse comparator; Aerospace electronics; Aircraft; Extraterrestrial measurements; Instruments; Radar cross section; Radar imaging; Radar measurements; Radar tracking; Receiving antennas; Transmitting antennas;
Journal_Title :
Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on
