A practical millimeter-wave radar calibration target

A simple rectangular-plate millimeter-wave radar calibration target gives RCS values ranging from hundreds to thousands of square meters. This enable tests over extended ranges and with equipment having modest output power. Precise mechanical alignment mechanisms and an optical sight are mandatory, due to the narrow beamwidth. Absorber collars provide an easy way of adjusting the actual RCS according to specific mission requirements, and effectively reduce edge-diffraction effects. The measured V-band calibration uncertainty was less than 0.5 dB, and the pointing resolution was better than 0.05°.