Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar Coverage-Determinant Factors

Area of Science:

• Radar Systems Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) is critical for air traffic control.
• Optimizing MSSR antenna performance is essential for reliable aircraft detection.
• Existing MSSR systems face challenges with coverage limitations and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an improved MSSR antenna design with enhanced radiation patterns.
• To investigate the influence of signal reflection and atmospheric refraction on MSSR coverage.
• To validate theoretical findings with practical measurement data and simulations.

Main Methods:

• Design and analysis of an improved MSSR antenna.
• Characterization of SUM beam's horizontal and vertical radiation factors.
• Assessment of environmental factors (signal reflection, atmospheric refraction) on coverage.
• Utilizing real positioning measurement data for validation.
• Performing coverage simulations.

Main Results:

• The improved MSSR antenna design demonstrates a refined radiation pattern.
• Signal reflection and atmospheric refraction significantly affect radar coverage.
• Simulations and real-world data confirm the theoretical analysis of coverage determinants.
• The study quantifies the impact of environmental factors on MSSR performance.

Conclusions:

• The proposed MSSR antenna design offers enhanced performance characteristics.
• Understanding and mitigating environmental impacts are crucial for maximizing MSSR coverage.
• The integration of theoretical analysis, simulations, and real-world data provides a robust framework for MSSR coverage assessment.