Method for optimizing the pointing of an antenna of an airborne radar system

Abstract

A method for optimizing the elevational pointing of an antenna of an airborne radar system at an altitude h includes an antenna and processing and calculation means, the method comprising: a. selecting an area of interest b. calculating atmospheric losses Lat a reference altitude hat the reference range Dand calculating a reference criterion K=−40 log(D); c. for each possible elevational pointing distance of the antenna Dfrom the area of interest, calculating the antenna elevation S that makes it possible to target the distance Dvia the centre of the antenna; d. for each distance D from the region of interest, calculating the angle θ at which the antenna observes the point of the ground at the distance D and calculating a criterion; 1. K(D)=G(θ)+G(θ)−40 logD+L(h,D)−L(h,D) 2. where G(θ),G(θ) are respectively the gains of the antenna that are normalized at emission and at reception; e. calculating all of the distances D that, for this pointing distance D, satisfy the relationship K(D)>Kso as to obtain the start and the end of the sub-swath actually able to be used by the radar system; and calculating the actually usable sub-swaths that are to be juxtaposed (A, B, C) in order to cover the whole of the area of interest without discontinuities.