Investigation of the Effects of Target Feature Variations on Ballistic Missile RCS

<p>Uncertainties in certain features of target geometries result in a loss of confidence in the signature assessment of the target. Knowledge of the impact to a target's radarcross section (RCS) due to changes to specific target features can assist to identifywhether uncertainty in a certain target feature warrants a loss of confidence in the targetsignature. This study will allow a development of a general rule-of-thumb on how theradar signature of a target varies as a function of the target's specific target features. Thetargets of interest which this study is centered around are fictitious ballistic missiles.Four target features that were investigated: fin size nosecone shape effect of panelriveting along the sides of the missile and the effects of heat shielding on the nosecone.By varying each of the four target features into a missile configuration and comparing toanother configuration a relationship between specific target features and its effect on theradar cross section of a ballistic missile can be obtained. Based on the range of possibleconfigurations that target's feature can take it is possible to estimate a range of possiblevalues of the radar signature. This will enable the user of the signature data to have abetter understanding of the target being assessed and target characteristics when acomplete knowledge of target configuration is unavailable.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>