What is radar cross section area?

The radar cross section (RCS) of a target is the equivalent area seen by a radar. It is the fictitious area intercepting that amount of power which, when scattered equally in all directions, produces an echo at the radar equal to that from the target.

How high do commercial planes fly?

between 30,000 and 42,000 feet
The average commercial passenger jet aircraft cruises at an altitude between 30,000 and 42,000 feet (ft) (9,000 – 13,000 meters). This means that aeroplanes usually fly between 5 to 7 miles up in the air. It typically takes around 15 to 30 minutes after take-off for the aeroplane to reach this altitude.

What affects radar cross section?

A target’s RCS depends on its size, reflectivity of its surface, and the directivity of the radar reflection caused by the target’s geometric shape.

How far away can an aircraft be from the radar?

Aircraft far away from the radar must be at high altitude to be above the horizon, otherwise they are “under the radar”. In flat terrain at 1 000ft, the horizon is about 33 nautical mile away. Aircraft further away will be shielded below the horizon.

What are the factors affecting the performance of radar?

Factors affecting radar performance. The performance of a radar system can be judged by the following: (1) the maximum range at which it can see a target of a specified size, (2) the accuracy of its measurement of target location in range and angle, (3) its ability to distinguish one target from another,

Why can’t radar detect planes at higher altitudes?

Because the radar doesn’t distinguish altitude, controllers may not be able to distinguish an aircraft within these areas of interference. Secondary Surveillance Radars work on 1030 MHz and 1090 MHz. Most primary radars work at higher frequencies. Signals at these frequencies do not follow the curvature of the earth very well.

What is the size of the cross section of a radar?

Most air-traffic-control radars are required to detect aircraft with a radar cross section as low as 2 square metres, since some small general-aviation aircraft can be of this value. For comparison, the radar cross section of a man has been measured at microwave frequencies to be about 1 square metre.