Non-rigid Body Motion Effects on Radar Database Signatures for Target Identification

Radar signature databases are critical elements of combat aircraft target identification systems that must accurately reflect the target configurations at the time the identification is to be made. However, there are numerous effects that can cause the databases to be less than optimal in terms of real-time target representation and impede portability and hybridization. The proposed work addresses one broad category of such effects, those which are caused by non-rigid body motion of the target structural features illuminated by the radar. The proposed work will include innovative analysis of non-rigid body scattering effects including development of time domain theory, radar measurements, and construction and validation of a new software analysis tool. BENEFIT: The Air Force uses aircraft manufactured by several major contractors, most of which produce several different aircraft that contain NCTI systems. It is very costly and inefficient for signature databases to be developed independently for each of these platforms. Better understanding of the fundamental scattering effects that can impede portability and hybridization of signature databases will result in cost savings to the manufacturer and to the Government, as well as leading to better NCTI performance. The software developed under the proposed Phase II program will be marketed to the Government and to large and small companies seeking signature prediction and analysis capabilities beyond that offered by currently available tools such as Xpatch.