Wideband reflectivity of a separating target

Many radar applications involve scenarios in which the target to be interrogated by radar is located in the close proximity of other objects affecting the signature of the target of interest through multiple scattering and shadowing. Examples include cruise missiles flying close to terrain or man-made structures and aircraft immediately after weapons release. Another example is the proximity of objects in a missile complex immediately following a separation (deployment) event. This paper reports an attempt to assess the ramifications of multiple-target interactions via a rigorous surface integral equation formulation. The analysis is limited to axisymmetric targets. Results of this analysis provide insight into the nature and extent of multiple scattering and shadowing on the signature of a separating missile and may lead to improvements in dynamic radar cross section modeling of such targets.