Cylindrically Curved Checkerboard Surfaces for Radar Cross-Section Reduction

Checkerboard surfaces, for radar cross-section (RCS) reduction, utilizing artificial magnetic conductor structures on flexible cylindrically curved ground planes are introduced. The RCSs of cylindrical checkerboard surfaces are examined for two different radii of curvature. Wideband curved checkerboard surfaces are evaluated under normal incidence for HH and VV polarizations. Simulated bistatic RCS patterns of the cylindrical checkerboard surfaces are presented, discussed, and justified, and the backscattering is compared with measurements. A very good agreement is observed.