This chapter includes a discussion of several forms of the radar range equation, including those most often used in predicting radar performance. It begins with forecasting the power density at a distance R and extends to the two-way case for monostatic radar for targets, surface clutter, and volumetric clutter. Then radar receiver thermal noise power is determined, providing the SNR. Equivalent but specialized forms of the RRE are developed for a search radar and then for a tracking radar. Initially, an idealized approach is presented, limiting the introduction of terms to the ideal radar parameters. After the basic RRE is derived, nonideal effects are introduced. Specifically, the component, propagation, and signal processing losses are introduced, providing a more realistic value for the received target signal power.

Chapter Contents:

• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Power Density at a Distance R
• 2.3 Received Power from a Target
• 2.4 Receiver Thermal Noise
• 2.5 Signal-to-Noise Ratio and the Radar Range Equation
• 2.6 Multiple-Pulse Effects
• 2.7 Summary of Losses
• 2.8 Solving for Other Variables
• 2.9 Decibel Form of the Radar Range Equation
• 2.10 Average Power Form of the Radar Range Equation
• 2.11 Pulse Compression: Intrapulse Modulation
• 2.12 A Graphical Example
• 2.13 Clutter as the Target
• 2.14 One-Way (Link) Equation
• 2.15 Search Form of the Radar Range Equation
• 2.16 Track Form of the Radar Range Equation
• 2.17 Some Implications of the Radar Range Equation
• 2.18 Further Reading
• 2.19 References
• 2.20 Problems

Inspec keywords: radar tracking; radar signal processing; radar clutter; target tracking; radar receivers; search radar

Other keywords: radar range equation; received target signal power; monostatic radar; nonideal effects; volumetric clutter; search radar; RRE; surface clutter; signal processing losses; radar receiver thermal noise power; power density forecasting; tracking radar; radar performance prediction

Subjects: Radar equipment, systems and applications; Signal processing and detection