Transient scattering response of an airborne target

The research team performed measurements in a bounded wave simulator to obtain the radar cross section (RCS) of a scale model of a particular airborne target. Measurements of the airborne target were obtained from two different flying orientations. The transient scattering response data were scaled to allow comparison with the RCS obtained by numerical methods for a full-size target. This document also presents the measurement procedure and data processing techniques that were used by the research team. A target was placed within the bounded wave simulator (BWS) area and was hit with an electromagnetic impulse, returning the scattered signal through the BWS for measurement in the control room. Measurements were also made of the background signal, as well as the incident signal. As the signals return to the control room below the BWS structure, the waveforms are captured on an oscilloscope, then processed using Tektronix's Signal Processing and Display Package and Radar Cross Section program developed at NRaD. These programs convert the waveforms from time domain representations to frequency through the Fast Fourier Transform process. Further waveform processing allowed the calculation of RCS, which is the basis for target identification efforts using resonant frequencies. The measurement procedure and signal processing techniques are discussed in detail in the appendices.