EADS Military Aircraft has completed a 12-month trial of the cost-effectiveness of ground-based measurement of aircraft antenna performance and radar cross-section.
An actual Panavia Tornado was mounted on top of a 13m (43ft) -high pole, on a turntable able to rotate in increments of less than 0.1º. The aircraft was illuminated by radars ranging in frequency from 500MHz to 40Ghz as it was swung through arcs of up to 90º. This allowed accurate identification of areas of scattering for application of stealth coatings.
The Airbus Military A400M, Eurocopter Tiger, Eurofighter Typhoon and NH Industries NH90 are candidates for ground-based measurements, which are cheaper than flight tests, more repeatable, and more realistic than pole models, says EADS.
Source: Flight International
