A GUIDE TO BASIC PULSE-RADAR MAXIMUM-RANGE CALCULATION. PART 1. EQUATIONS, DEFINITIONS, AND AIDS TO CALCULATION

Abstract : The basic equation for pulse-radar maximum-range calculation is presented in a form convenient for numerical computation. Charts, graphs, tables, and auxiliary equations are presented for evaluation of the various factors in the range equation. Included are graphs for the required signal-to- noise ratio as a function of probability of detection, false-alarm probability, and number of pulses integrated, for both nonfluctuating and fluctuating (Swerling Cases 1 and 3) echoes. Also treated are the effects of receiver bandwidth, antenna and receiver noise, sea-reflection interference, refraction and absorption by the atmosphere, and various system losses. Standard definitions of range-equation quantities are given. The effects of jamming and clutter echoes are treated briefly, as are also cumulative probability of detection and accuracy of radar range prediction. A systematic procedure for range calculation, employing a work sheet, is presented.