Experimental study of the radar cross-section of maritime targets

A comprehensive set of results are presented for a variety of surface targets. The targets chosen range from ¿¿40 dBm2 to + 70 dBm2 and results of the smaller ones have been compiled from trials that have taken place over a variety of environmental conditions. These illustrate the variability experienced at sea in the radar performance of targets, which, in a free-space environment, may exhibit neither fading nor variability with the aspect viewed. The necessary statistical treatment for fading targets has been used to describe the targets examined in a manner which is directly applicable to the estimation of radar range and detection probabilities. Most of the results are appropriate to the bulk of marine radars using a wavelength of 3.2 cm and horizontally-polarised transmission and reception