Radar absorbing material (RAM) and shaping on radar cross section reduction of dihedral corners

How far can a radar system detect an object depends the radar cross section (RCS) of the target. Corner reflectors are the major scattering centers in the radar signatures of vehicles. The monostatic return from such structures can be reduced by ensuring that surfaces never meet at right angles and by application of radar absorbing materials (RAM). This paper deals with the RCS reduction of dihedrals by shaping and by application of RAM. RCS from dihedrals were compared before and after the application of radar absorbing coating. RAM is based on conductive carbon black dispersed in rubber matrix.