Tracking accuracies of sequentially lobed radars on fluctuating targets

The effect of amplitude scintillation on a sequential lobing tracker has been analyzed. It is shown that the angular tracking accuracy is limited by the amount of target fluctuation if the target return signal fluctuates. A loss-of-track condition is found and is shown to give the same output as would be obtained from a Rayliegh distributed return signal. The report further shows that tracking targets with Swerling type I fluctuations is virtually impossible, while the tracking of type III targets is marginal. These results have direct application for a frequency scanned array which uses sequential lobing to angle track, because changing frequency will produce scintillation of target cross section, causing the return signal to fluctuate.