Low-altitude radar tracking - Problems and prospects
Abstract
Results of a general analysis of the effect of reflection from ground terrain on the accuracy of radar tracking of a low-level target. Static equilibrium conditions are obtained for monopulse and conical-scanning radars as a function of the parameters defining the system geometry. A numerical solution of these equations is obtained which reveals the existence of three possible equilibrium positions of the antenna. On the basis of these results and a study of the antenna elevation open-loop control signal, a few of the most probable experimental behaviors of the pointing error are indicated. An analysis is then made of the effect of the radar parameters on the magnitude and behavior of the error. After noting a few proposals for obtaining a reduction in the pointing error, some guidelines are given concerning the appropriate direction which further research should take in order to minimize this error.
- Publication:
-
L'Aerotecnica Missili e Spazio
- Pub Date:
- August 1974
- Bibcode:
- 1974AerMS..53..291C
- Keywords:
-
- Conical Scanning;
- Equilibrium Equations;
- Low Altitude;
- Monopulse Radar;
- Radar Tracking;
- Error Analysis;
- Numerical Stability;
- Position Errors;
- Radar Antennas;
- Radar Targets;
- Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking