Computer prediction of RCS for military targets

Abstract

There are a number of well established theoretical techniques for predicting the local scat- tering of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, including physical optics (PO), the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD), and developments and refinements of these. The paper discusses means of integrating local scattering theories such as these into a global system able to predict and analyse the radar cross-section of large, complex targets defined by a digital database. In particular, a computer system developed for the RCS predic- tion of military platforms, which uses ray-tracing methods to perform this integration, is described. The approach used in this system aims to maxi- mise predictive power by making the greatest use of the target description itself in estimating its RCS, avoiding reliance on subjective assessment by the user or the need for empirical parameters. This work is used to illustrate the benefits and problems inherent in this approach.