Measurement of bistatic radar cross section in SA 5751 compact range

The bistatic angles of an SA 5751 collimated reflector illuminated by laterally defocused feeds are determined by PO (physical optics) calculation and checked by measurement using a monopulse antenna. The measured bistatic RCS (radar cross section) data of a square metal plate are compared with the results of PO calculation. It is shown that, for small targets and not too large bistatic angles, the bistatic RCS can be measured in a single-collimated reflector's compact range by laterally defocusing its separated transmitting and receiving feeds. The bistatic RCS of the 30.4 cm by 30.4 cm square metal plate measured in the SA 5751 compact range agrees with PO calculation for bistatic angles up to 24/spl deg/. However, the largest bistatic angle is limited by the target size and the feed's laterally defocused distance.<
>