Measurement and Analysis of Radar Cross Section for F-22 Fighter Aircraft using FEKO Software

• Main Author: Syahtrian - 13614027 , Afif
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/25083
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

In this final project, simulation of RCS (Radar Cross Section) measurement is conducted using FEKO (FEldberechnung bei Körpern mit beliebiger Oberfläche) EM Simulation for F-22 fighter aircraft. This simulation is done in different condition to determine factors that affect the RCS value. By applying varieties of radar frequency, computational measuring method, and aircraft material, an analysis of the effect of said factors on RCS value can be made. The methods used in this simulation are PO (Physical Optics), MLFMM (Multilevel Fast Multipole Method), and MoM (Method of Moment). The simulation is conducted by using a simplified F-22 model with a scale of 1:1. The assumptions applied are bistatic radar system, electromagnetic waves radiated from the front part of aircraft, aligned with the aircraft, antenna that is used to radiate and accept isotropic electromagnetic waves. This simulation is conducted with varied frequencies (1 GHz, 2 GHz, 4 GHz, 8 GHz, and 12 GHz), methods (PO full-ray tracing, MLFMM, and MoM), and materials (metal and non-metal). PO full-ray tracing is one of the PO measurement methods. The results of the conducted simulation of the RCS measurements using FEKO EM Simulation are the bigger the frequencies applied, therefore computation measurement needed increases in size, such as mesh quantity, running simulation time, and the capacity of memory. Meanwhile the computational measurements used for the MoM and MLFMM methods are more detailed and more accurate compared to PO full-ray tracing which can be seen from the mesh quantity, running simulation time, and the much bigger required capacity of memory. However, MoM and MLFMM have different values of required capacity of memory to conduct running simulation. Permittivity and permeability are found to affect the RCS value for varied aircraft materials. The effect of permittivity and permeability lies in the part of object that is exposed to radar waves directly (not shadowed region). The results of the simulations in this final project, using the same measurement method, compared to scientific journal. The results obtained are not far different from the scientific journal. Differences between the simulation and the scientific journal are caused by different radar frequencies and geometrical model of F-22 aircraft. The RCS values obtained from the front part of aircraft falls between -10 dB until 0 dB, while values from the rear part falls between 30 dB until 40 dB. The RCS value of the simulation can be decreased using RAM (Radar Absorbing Material), geometrical shape, and actual parts of the F-22 aircraft.