Response surface methodology applied to the radar range equation

The technique of response-surface methodology is used to prioritize data collection for a database where confidence factors are assigned to data elements whose accuracy is suspect. In the database considered, radar parameters which must be estimated more accurately are identified. It is shown that as the degree of inaccuracy of estimation increases, the importance of all the variables in the radar equation (gain, frequency, noise figure, bandwidth, losses, and power) increases. The probability of detection, probability of false alarm, radar cross section, and number of pulses integrated decrease in importance as the confidence factor increases (estimations become more inaccurate). It is found that the factor that must be estimated with the highest degree of accuracy is antenna gain