An overview of SPC's radar measurement capabilies can be downloaded as a 1.9Mb pdf file.
Radar Systems
The Radar Physics Group owns and operates several instrumentation radars. Currently, a MkIV
Instrumentation Radar and MkV Instrumentation Radar are available for indoor range measurements,
while a second MkIV Instrumentation Radar is configured in shock-mounted palletized racks for
field deployment. The MkV has also been palletized and may be removed from the indoor range and used for field measurements.
Radar Truck
The Group maintains a radar truck as a mobile platform for field measurement campaigns. The truck
contains equipment racks, work tables, air conditioners, and overhead lights. The mobility of the
truck allows for measurements without the necessity of nearby facilities. The truck has also
been used as a mobile data processing lab in conjunction with helicopter-based measurements.
Measurement Range
At its One Virginia Square address, the Group owns and maintains an echoic chamber that is used
for ISAR and SAR measurements. The facility has approximate dimensions of 20'(wide) x 20'(high)
x 60'(long). The walls are smooth and covered with metallic paint. SPC can make RCS
measurements in the facility with any of the available MkV or MkIV radar systems that it
possesses. Typically, measurements can be accomplished from 2-18 GHz. An 11 foot linear rail
supports synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements, while various rotators can be used in
inverse SAR (ISAR) measurements. Antenna patterns can also be collected. A variety of antenna
dishes and horns are available.
