Radar Cross Section

by Eugene F. Knott, John F. Schaeffer, Michael T. Tulley

This is the second edition of the first and foremost book on this subject for self-study, training, and course work. Radar cross section (RCS) is a comparison of two radar signal strengths. One is the strength of the radar beam sweeping over a target, the other is the strength of the reflected echo sensed by the receiver. This book shows how the RCS "gauge" can be predicted for theoretical objects and how it can be measured for real targets. Predicting RCS is not easy, even for simple objects like spheres or cylinders, but this book explains the two "exact" forms of theory so well that even a novice will understand enough to make close predictions. Weapons systems developers are keenly interested in reducing the RCS of their platforms. The two most practical ways to reduce RCS are shaping and absorption. This book explains both in great detail, especially in the design, evaluation and selection of radar absorbers. There is also great detail on the design and employment of indoor and outdoor test ranges for scale models or for full-scale targets (such as aircraft).

In essence, this book covers everything you need to know about RCS, from what it is, how to predict and measure, how to test targets (indoors and out) and how to beat it.

626 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1985

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent summary of the basics, testing, and processing. perfect way to get up to speed

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need—or just want—to know an awful lot about how airframes and radar interact and how to design better airplanes (or other objects) to present less-apparent cross-sections, this book is a great place to start. While research in a field such as this is prone to always be advancing and any book somewhat out of date a month after publication, this text covers the basics and goes into applications that will remain valid for years if not decades and contains a wealth of research findings.