Integrated projector-low radar cross-section (rcs) source support pylon

Abstract

A low RCS measurement system includes a measurement chamber which surrounds a target of interest intersected by a line defined by focal points associated with the measurement chamber and which separates and extracts scattered signals from the measurement chamber system, the measurement chamber system including a chamber having an interior defined by rotation of a nonlinear curve about the line, and first and second focusing elements which couple the scattered signals out of the chamber, a signal source which emits signals along the line, wherein the emitted signals interact with the target of interest to thereby produce the undesirable scattered signals and desirable backscattered signals, a source support pylon which supports an output element of the source and which couples the scattered signals out of the chamber, and a target support pylon, which supports the target of interest at one of the focal points, and which is coaxial with the line. The source support pylon includes a body of rotation about the line, and directs the scattered signals into one of the first and second focusing elements. Preferably, output element comprises a parabolic reflector. The source can include the parabolic reflector, a horn antenna and a subreflector, all of which are substantially coaxial with the line or the same elements, where the parabolic reflector intersects the line, while the horn antenna and the subreflector are disposed outside of the measurement chamber and communicate with the parabolic reflector via a window in the measurement chamber wall.