Radar Range Equation
Objectives
• Calculate range for a pulsed radar system.
• Calculate and interpret minimum range,
unambiguous range and range resolution
• Outline the derivation of the simplified radar
range equation
• Solve for maximum radar range using the
simplified radar range equation.
Basic Range
• Range = c t
2
s
1 6. 5
t = total time
5 s
elapsed for 2 – way trip 1 6 .
for pulse
4.95 km
• Example: How far away is a contact if it takes 33secs
for the pulse to return?
R = (3X108 m/s)(33x10-6 s) = 9900 m = 4.95 km
2 2
Range Calculations
Shortest range at Range beyond which The min distance
which radar can target appears as between 2 targets
first detect a “second time at nearly the same
target around” range that
generate 2
separate returns
“Simplified” Radar Range
Equation
Power Out
• Assume pulse radiates
uniformly out from antenna in
all directions
Power density at
any given point is
Effective Antenna Aperture
• Ae is a measure of actual antenna performance
– both transmit and receive
• The larger the aperture, the better the radar’s performance
• But no 100% efficient antenna, is a decimal # < 1.0
A = antenna physical area
ρ = antenna [in]efficiency
Ae = antenna aperture
Directional Gain
• Omni-directional beam spreads spherically
surface area = 4R2
• Directional beam
surface area = (R)(R) = R2
• Directional Gain = Maximum Radiation Intensity
Average Radiation Intensity
= Maximum power per steradian
Total power radiated isotropic
• Based purely on dimensions/shape of antenna
R
R
R
Power Gain
• Also simply called Gain…power out with respect to signal losses between transmitter
and antenna.
• Remember for radar antennas = k/L therefore;
• Includes efficiency of radar based on shape/spill over/losses
L
=k / Length
W
= k / Width
Gain Example
What is the gain of an AN/APS-116 (S-3
radar) that is operating at 9.8 GHz? The
antenna is 1.07 m wide and 0.61 m high
with an efficiency estimated at 77%.
Power Gain
Combine with Power Gain (G) of a directed antenna…
Radar Cross Section
Reflection
Effective area that reflects the Radar Energy
back to the receiver is Radar Cross Section “σ”
Returned Ray
Incident Rays
Return Signal Spreading
Signal undergoes spherical
spreading on way back to
receiver
Pr = Power Returning
from target
Received at Antenna
• Only a small amount of return pulse is
collected
• Effective Antenna Aperture Ae determines
amount of energy received
A = area antenna
ρ = antenna efficiency
Detection
When the Minimum Signal for Detection (Smin)
is equal to the power density at the receiver, target
detection will result.
Therefore,
Rmax
Solve for Maximum Range for Detection
Units check!
Example: SPS-49 2D Air Search
Radar
• Radar Parameters
– Peak Power: 500 kW
– Antenna Dimensions: 8m wide x 4m high (Orange Peel Parabolic design)
– Frequency: 700 MHz (approx. mid range)
– Antenna Gain: 34 dB
– PRF: 230pps / 800 or 1000pps
– PW: 75 μs (compressed) or 2 μs (short range)
• Determine horizontal and vertical beamwidths
• Calculate Directional Gain (Gdir), efficiency and (Ae)
• Calculate Rmax for a 1 square meter RCS and Smin of
1pW
• Change peak power to 6400 kW . Determine new max
range for the same target.
Objectives
• Calculate range for a pulsed radar system.
• Calculate and interpret minimum range,
unambiguous range and range resolution
• Outline the derivation of the simplified radar
range equation
• Solve for maximum radar range using the
simplified radar range equation.
