Radar Signature Modeling for Missile and Target Encounter

Radar-guided weapons can be confounded by a number of factors, including clutter, jamming, target glint, and engine modulation. Missile/target encounter simulations, if they are to test a homing systems weak points, must incorporate these effects. We propose to investigate the electromagnetic (EM) modeling requirements for a complete radar-guided weapon system simulator. Specifically, in the Phase I effort, we will develop a prototype EM predictor suitable for missile/target end-game scenarios. The predictor will implement a high-frequency approximation, shooting and bouncing rays (SBR). The SBR method is suitable for electrically large and geometrically complex targets represented by CAD models, and has been proven to be accurate for both metallic and non-metallic materials. The EM predictor will also include the radiation and receiving patterns of the missile fuzing and tracking antennas. The proposed predictor is intended to eventually serve as a component in a whole-system simulator which includes separate components for the missile radar system, decision logic, and flight kinematrics, etc. After completion of the prototype EM predictor, we propose to research Doppler effects, engine modulation, clutter, and jamming, with an eye toward augmenting the EM predictor in Phase II to include these effects.