Prediction of target detection probability based on air-to-air long-range scenarios in anomalous atmospheric environments

Abstract

We investigate a target detection probability (TDP) using path loss of an airborne radar based on air-to-air scenarios in anomalous atmospheric and weather environments. In the process of calculating the TDP, it is necessary to obtain the overall path loss including the anomalous atmospheric environment, gas attenuation, rainfall attenuation, and beam scanning loss. The path loss including the quad-linear refractivity model and other radar input parameters is simulated using the Advanced Refractive Effects Prediction System (AREPS) software along the range and the altitude. For the gas and rainfall attenuations, ITU-R models are used to consider the weather environment. In addition, the radar beam scan loss and a radar cross section (RCS) of the target are considered to estimate the TDP of the airborne long-range radar. The TDP performance is examined by employing the threshold evaluations of the total path loss derived from the detectability factor and the free-space radar range equation. Finally, the TDPs are obtained by assuming various air-to-air scenarios for the airborne radar in anomalous atmospheric and weather environments. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.