Dynamic RCS Prediction of Rapidly Blooming Chaff Cloud and its Validation using Measurement on Scaled-down

Abstract

In modern warfare scenario, chaff cloud consisting of millions of small individual microwave scatterers, is used as a passiveelectronic countermeasure to rapidly create a false target having Radar Cross Section (RCS) more than a real target. RCS prediction of chaff cloud by modeling and simulation is a complex phenomenon as each scatterer has different resonating length, oriented randomly and interact with each other in a complex form. Monostatic RCS measurement of the chaff cloud in the real scenario is also difficult as the target size is quite big and shape and size are changing with time. In the present paper, the dynamic RCS prediction of chaff cloud has been carried out by modeling and simulation using the in-house developed software in MATLAB. Various regular shapes like a plume, sphere, cylindrical and cubical have been presumed and interaction of each scatterer has been analytically evaluated based on screening effect. RCS response of chaff clouds of different shapes and sizes were predicted. To validate the predicted RCS values, miniaturized models of different shapes and sizes are prepared to simulate scale down dynamic chaff cloud blooming. Their monostatic RCS responses were measured in the anechoic chamber for 8-18 GHz. A good agreement is observed in measurement and predicted values.