The impact of antenna design on short range radar performance

Short range radars require high range resolution and high angular resolution in order to accurately measure the scattering characteristics of the target of interest. In terms of range resolution it is not simply the bandwidth that defines the range resolution that can be achieved, but also the temporal characteristics of the radiated waveform or its equivalent in the frequency domain. These characteristics of the radiated waveform are defined by the source waveform and the antenna, whether this operates in free space or in proximity to the propagating medium. Hence the antenna, its relationship to the propagating medium and its impact on the system performance is absolutely key to optimising the overall radar system resolution, sensitivity and the ability to detect targets compared with radars operating in free space.