TEST/EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT OF AIRBORNE SURFACE SEARCH RADARS AGAINST OPERATIONAL/CONTRACTUAL SPECIFICATION

DESIGNING AND TESTING SURFACE SEARCH RADARS FOR DETECTING SMALL TARGETS ON SEA CLUTTER REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE OF THE MAGNITUDE AND TIME VARYING NATURE OF THE RADAR CROSS SECTION (RCS) OF BOTH THE TARGET AND THE SEA CLUTTER. A MAJOR FACTOR IN ESTABLISHING CLUTTER AND TARGET RCS IS THE MULTIPATH PHENMENON. IN THIS CONNECTION THE NAVY (DAVID TAYLOR RESEARCH CENTER) HAS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A FACILITY (SCRIF) AT PMTC TO MEASURE THE RCS OF SHIPS UNDER SUCH CONTITIONS WITH THE CAPABILITY OF ESTABLISHING THE IMPACT OF THE SEA STATE, AND ASSOCIATED MULTIPATH, ON SUCH MEASUREMENTS. IN ADDITION PMRF IS A POTENTIALLY SUITABLE RADAR INSTALLATION ON THE 1,500' MAKAHA RIDGE FOR SIMILAR MEASUREMENTS. IT IS PROPOSED TO: (1) REVIEW THE LITERATURE AND CONSULT WITH APPROPRIATE NAVAL PERSONNEL, AND THEIR CONTRACTORS, ON THE DESIGN AND TEST OF SURVILLANCE RADARS WITH RESPECT TO SEA CLUTTER, TARGET SIZE AND THE MULTIPATH PHENOMENON, (2) REVIEW THE PMTC AND PMRF FACILITIES WITH RESPECT TO THEIR SUITABILITY FOR CONDUCTING APPLICABLE TESTS, (3) PREPARE A REPORT REFINING A STANDARD EVALUATION CRITERIA AND TEST PROCEDURE, (4) RECOMMEND WITHER PMRF OR PMTC AS THE LOCATION OF A SUITABLE TEST FACILITY AND OUTLINE THE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, IF REQUIRED, FOR SUCH A FACILITY.