3.1 Types of Radar Targets
17
Fig. 3.2 Radar image of
point targets
reflectors. Particularly, one of the primary radar targets—aerial vehicle—consists of
different surfaces and details simultaneously participating in creation of reflected
signal.
Distributed targets have sizes bigger than linear resolution capability of radar
in one, two or three coordinates. Distributed target practically can be split into a set
of targets (according to amount of resolution elements) that is impossible for a point
target. Distributed targets can be divided into linear, area and volume targets.
Linear target is called a target, the length (l a ) of which exceeds the radar linear
resolution probability even in one of coordinates, and width (l b ) is less than any linear
resolution probabilities. Rivers, seashores, electric power lines, runaways and taxing
lanes refer to linear radar targets.
Area target is called a target, two sizes of which exceed the radar resolution
probabilities in two coordinates, and height is less than linear resolution probability
in elevation angle. Parts of earth surface represent an area targets.
Figure 3.3 shows radar images obtained from linear target (river) and area target
(mountainous terrain).
Volume target is called a target, all sizes of which exceed the radar linear
resolution probabilities. Rain cloud or other hydrometeors, cloud of radar reflector
devices (dipoles), ejected for enemy radar deception (radar passive jamming), are
often volume-distributed targets. The radar images of volume meteorological targets
obtained by Doppler weather radar system (DWRS) are represented in Fig. 3.4.
Therefore, target division into point and distributed (linear, area, volume) is based
on relation between target dimensions and radar resolution probability.
17
Fig. 3.2 Radar image of
point targets
reflectors. Particularly, one of the primary radar targets—aerial vehicle—consists of
different surfaces and details simultaneously participating in creation of reflected
signal.
Distributed targets have sizes bigger than linear resolution capability of radar
in one, two or three coordinates. Distributed target practically can be split into a set
of targets (according to amount of resolution elements) that is impossible for a point
target. Distributed targets can be divided into linear, area and volume targets.
Linear target is called a target, the length (l a ) of which exceeds the radar linear
resolution probability even in one of coordinates, and width (l b ) is less than any linear
resolution probabilities. Rivers, seashores, electric power lines, runaways and taxing
lanes refer to linear radar targets.
Area target is called a target, two sizes of which exceed the radar resolution
probabilities in two coordinates, and height is less than linear resolution probability
in elevation angle. Parts of earth surface represent an area targets.
Figure 3.3 shows radar images obtained from linear target (river) and area target
(mountainous terrain).
Volume target is called a target, all sizes of which exceed the radar linear
resolution probabilities. Rain cloud or other hydrometeors, cloud of radar reflector
devices (dipoles), ejected for enemy radar deception (radar passive jamming), are
often volume-distributed targets. The radar images of volume meteorological targets
obtained by Doppler weather radar system (DWRS) are represented in Fig. 3.4.
Therefore, target division into point and distributed (linear, area, volume) is based
on relation between target dimensions and radar resolution probability.