A novel target designed for the calibration of radars

A technique that can be used to calibrate radar cross section (RCS) levels over a wide dynamic range and to establish overall target signature measurement accuracy is presented. It is based on the development of a specially designed calibration target which is characterized by a linear RCS variation with respect to aspect angle. An inverse scattering technique based on geometrical optics approximation is utilized to define the surface of such a target. Design data describing the surface dimension as a function of the specified maximum and minimum RCS values were developed, and the limitations of the design technique were investigated. An engineering test model covering a 35-dB dynamic range was constructed to verify experimentally the design linearity. priliminary results were excellent.