Calculation of Aircraft Target’s Single-Pulse Detection Probability

Kuizhi Yue,Shichun Chen,Changyong Shu

doi:10.5028/jatm.v7i3.470

Kuizhi Yue, Shichun Chen + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5028/jatm.v7i3.470

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Abstract

The original radar cross section data or some rough models are often used to estimate a given aircraft target detection probability. The calculation results may not be very accurate as targets are different from one another and the real radar detection process is complex. A new method for radar cross section model generation is proposed and it takes the random factors like air turbulence into account; this makes it conform to the reality. In addition, this radar cross section model can be directly applied to the radar detection process to calculate the detection probability of a specific aircraft at any attitude. Four typical aerial vehicles are taken as examples to demonstrate this method and information such as detection probability, signal to noise ratio and detection distance. Target's instantaneous probability of being tracked, which corresponds to target's detection probability, can also be calculated. Using these calculation results, we can compare two different aircrafts' stealth performance in detail or optimize an aircraft's flight path.

Highlights

It is a common practice that a radar cross section (RCS) of a target is interpreted as the target’s stealth performance or its detection probability by hostile radar
We focus on the aircraft’s stealth performance evaluation, from the perspective of detection probability
The calculation of single pulse detection probability for RCS fluctuation targets has been analyzed and a new RCS model generation method has been proposed as the basis of the calculation

Summary

INTRODUCTION

It is a common practice that a radar cross section (RCS) of a target is interpreted as the target’s stealth performance or its detection probability by hostile radar. This function considers many variables such as target’s RCS values, false alarm probability, SNR and radar system’s working settings It has a precise approximation expression, so it can give an accurate detection probability for any given RCS data. If the working parameters of hostile radar are known, we can calculate target’s detection probability at any given distance and we are able to obtain the exact values of PD, SNR, Pfa and R. This is the advantage of our method over other general detection models or basic RCS models.

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CONCLUSIONS