
MECA Electronics Attenuators

Electronic Warfare and Radar Systems Engineering Handbook
- Two-Way Radar Equation (Monostatic) -

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In this section the radar equation is derived from the one-way equation (transmitter to receiver) which is then extended to the two-way radar equation. The following is a summary of the important equations to be derived here:

Peak power at the radar receiver input is:


2-way radar equation - RF Cafe

The two-way monostatic radar equation visualized - RF CafeFigure 1 illustrates the physical concept and equivalent circuit for a target being illuminated by a monostatic radar (transmitter and receiver co-located). Note the similarity of Figure 1 to Figure 3 in Section 4-3. Transmitted power, transmitting and receiving antenna gains, and the one-way free space loss are the same as those described in Section 4-3. The physical arrangement of the elements is different, of course, but otherwise the only difference is the addition of the equivalent gain of the target RCS factor.

From Section 4-3, One-Way Radar Equation / RF Propagation, the power in the receiver is:

RF Cafe - equation   [1]

From equation [3] in Section 4-3:  Antenna Gain, G =  RF Cafe -       [2]
Similar to a receiving antenna, a radar target also intercepts a portion of the power, but reflects (reradiates) it in the direction of the radar. The amount of power reflected toward the radar is determined by the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of the target. RCS is a characteristic of the target that represents its size as seen by the radar and has the dimensions of area (σ) as shown in Section 4-11. RCS area is not the same as physical area. But, for a radar target, the power reflected in the radar's direction is equivalent to re-radiation of the power captured by an antenna of area σ (the RCS). Therefore, the effective capture area (Ae) of the receiving antenna is replaced by the RCS (σ).

 RF Cafe - formula       [3]     so we now have:    RF Cafe - equation    [4]

The equation for the power reflected in the radar's direction is the same as equation [1] except that Pt Gt, which was the original transmitted power, is replaced with the reflected signal power from the target, from equation [4]. This gives:

RF Cafe - equation        [5]

2-way signal strength - RF CafeIf like terms are cancelled, the two-way radar equation results. The peak power at the radar receiver input is:

  RF Cafe - Receiver power equation   [6]

* Note: λ=c/f and F = RCS. Keep λ or c, σ, and R in the same units.

On reducing equation [6] to log form we have:

10 log Pr = 10 log Pt + 10 log Gt + 10 log Gr + 10 log σ - 20 log f - 40 log R - 30 log 4π + 20 log c    [7]

Target Gain Factor

If Equation [5] terms are rearranged instead of cancelled, a recognizable form results:

 Equation - RF Cafe       [8]

In log form:

Formula - RF Cafe        [9]

The fourth and sixth terms can each be recognized as -α, where α is the one-way free space loss factor defined in Section 4-3. The fifth term containing RCS (σ) is the only new factor, and it is the "Target Gain Factor".

In simplified terms the equation becomes:

10 log [S (or Pr)] = 10 log Pt + 10 log Gt + 10 log Gr + Gσ - 2α1 (in dB)        [10]

Where α1 and Gσ are as follows:
From Section 4-3, equation [11], the space loss in dB is given by:

 RF Cafe - Space loss formula    [11]

1-way free space loss - RF Cafe* Keep c and R in the same units. The table of values for K1 is again presented here for completeness. The constant, K1, in the table includes a range and frequency unit conversion factor. While it's understood that RCS is the antenna aperture area equivalent to an isotropically radiated target return signal, the target gain factor represents a gain, as shown in the equivalent circuit of Figure 1. The Target Gain Factor expressed in dB is Gσ as shown in equation [12].

Target gain factor - RF Cafe     [12]

The "Target Gain Factor" (Gσ) is a composite of RCS, frequency, and dimension conversion factors and is called by various names: "Gain of RCS", "Equivalent Gain of RCS", "Gain of Target Cross Section", and in dB form "Gain-sub- Sigma".

If frequency is given in MHz and RCS (σ) is in m2, the formula for G is:

Radar cross section equation - RF Cafe    [13]

or:  Gα = 10 log σ + 20 log f1 - 38.54    (in dB)       [14]

Target gain factor - RF CafeFor this example, the constant K2 is -38.54 dB. This value of K2 plus K2 for other area units and frequency multiplier values are summarized in the adjoining table.

In the two-way radar equation, the one-way free space loss factor (α1) is used twice, once for the radar transmitter to target path and once for the target to radar receiver path. The radar illustrated in Figure 1 is monostatic so the two path losses are the same and the values of the two α1's are the same.

If the transmission loss in Figure 1 from Pt to Gt equals the loss from Gr to Pr , and Gr = Gt, then equation [10] can be written as:

10 log [S or Pr] = 10 log Pt + 20 log Gtr - 2α1 + Gσ (in dB)          [15]

The space loss factor (α1) and the target gain factor (Gσ) include all the necessary unit conversions so that they can be used directly with the most common units. Because the factors are given in dB form, they are more convenient to use and allow calculation without a calculator when the factors are read from a chart or nomograph.

Most radars are monostatic. That is, the radar transmitting and receiving antennas are literally the same antenna. There are some radars that are considered "monostatic" but have separate transmitting and receiving antennas that are colocated. In that case, equation [10] could require two different antenna gain factors as originally derived:

10 log [S or Pr] = 10 log Pt + 10 log Gt + 10 log Gr - 2α1 + Gσ (in dB)        [16]

Note: To avoid having to include additional terms for these calculations, always combine any transmission line loss with antenna gain.

Figure 2 is the visualization of the path losses occurring with the two-way radar equation. Note: to avoid having to include additional terms, always combine any transmission line loss with antenna gain. Losses due to antenna polarization and atmospheric absorption also need to be included.

Visualization of Two-Way Radar Equation - RF Cafe

Figure 2. Visualization of Two-Way Radar Equation


The Radar Equation is often called the "Radar Range Equation". The Radar Range Equation is simply the Radar Equation rewritten to solve for maximum Range. The maximum radar range (Rmax) is the distance beyond which the target can no longer be detected and correctly processed. It occurs when the received echo signal just equals Smin.

The Radar Range Equation is then:   RF Cafe - formula     [17]

The first equation, of the three above, is given in Log form by:

RF Cafe - Formula       [18]

As shown previously, Since K1 = 20log [(4B/c) times conversion units if not in m/sec, m, and Hz], we have:

RF Cafe -        [19]

1-way free space loss - RF CafeIf you want to convert back from dB, then RF Cafe -

Where M dB is the resulting number within the brackets of equation 19.

From Section 5-2, Receiver Sensitivity / Noise, Smin is related to the noise factors by:

 Smin = (S/N)min(NF)kT0B        [20]

The Radar Range Equation for a tracking radar (target continuously in the antenna beam) becomes:

Radar range equation - RF Cafe      [21]

Pt in equations [17], [19], and [21] is the peak power of a CW or pulse signal. For pulse signals these equations assume the radar pulse is square. If not, there is less power since Pt is actually the average power within the pulse width of the radar signal. Equations [17] and [19] relate the maximum detection range to Smin, the minimum signal which can be detected and processed (the receiver sensitivity). The bandwidth (B) in equations [20] and [21] is directly related to Smin. B is approximately equal to 1/PW. Thus a wider pulse width means a narrower receiver bandwidth which lowers Smin, assuming no integration.

One cannot arbitrarily change the receiver bandwidth, since it has to match the transmitted signal. The "widest pulse width" occurs when the signal approaches a CW signal (see Section 2-11). A CW signal requires a very narrow bandwidth (approximately 100 Hz). Therefore, receiver noise is very low and good sensitivity results (see Section 5-2). If the radar pulse is narrow, the receiver filter bandwidth must be increased for a match (see Section 5-2), i.e. a 1 μs pulse requires a bandwidth of approximately 1 MHz. This increases receiver noise and decreases sensitivity.

If the radar transmitter can increase its PRF (decreasing PRI) and its receiver performs integration over time, an increase in PRF can permit the receiver to "pull" coherent signals out of the noise thus reducing S/Nmin thereby increasing 4-4.6 the detection range. Note that a PRF increase may limit the maximum range due to the creation of overlapping return echoes (see Section 2-10).

There are also other factors that limit the maximum practical detection range. With a scanning radar, there is loss if the receiver integration time exceeds the radar's time on target. Many radars would be range limited by line-of-sight/radar horizon (see Section 2-9) well before a typical target faded below Smin. Range can also be reduced by losses due to antenna polarization and atmospheric absorption (see Sections 3-2 and 5-1).

Two-Way Radar Equation (Example)

Assume that a 5 GHz radar has a 70 dBm (10 kilowatt) signal fed through a 5 dB loss transmission line to a transmit/receive antenna that has 45 dB gain. An aircraft that is flying 31 km from the radar has an RCS of 9 m2. What is the signal level at the input to the radar receiver? (There is an additional loss due to any antenna polarization mismatch but that loss will not be addressed in this problem). This problem continues in Sections 4-3, 4-7, and 4-10.


Starting with: 10 log S = 10 log Pt + 10 log Gt + 10 log Gr + Gσ - 2α1 (in dB)

We know that: α1 = 20l og f R + K1 = 20 log (5x31) + 92.44 = 136.25 dB

and that: Gσ = 10 log σ + 20 log f1 + K2 = 10 log 9 + 20 log 5 + 21.46 = 44.98 dB  (see Table 1)

(Note: The aircraft transmission line losses (-5 dB) will be combined with the antenna gain (45 dB) for
both receive and transmit paths of the radar)

So, substituting in we have: 10 log S = 70 + 40 + 40 + 44.98 - 2(136.25) = -77.52 dBm @ 5 GHz

The answer changes to -80.44 dBm if the tracking radar operates at 7 GHz provided the antenna gains and the aircraft RCS are the same at both frequencies.

α1 = 20 log (7x31) + 92.44 = 139.17 dB, Gσ = 10 log 9 + 20 log 7 + 21.46 = 47.9 dB (see Table 1)

10 log S = 70 + 40 + 40 + 47.9 - 2(139.17) = -80.44 dBm @ 7 GHz

Table 1. Values of the Target Gain Factor (Gσ) in dB for Various Values of Frequency and RCS
Values of the Target Gain Factor (Gσ) in dB for Various Values of Frequency and RCS - RF Cafe

Note: Shaded values were used in the examples.


As shown in equation [17] Smin-1 ≈ Rmax4  Therefore, -10 log Smin ≈ 40 log Rmax and the table below results:

% Range Increase: Range + (% Range Increase) x Range = New Range
i.e., for a 12 dB sensitivity increase, 500 miles +100% x 500 miles = 1,000 miles

Range Multiplier: Range x Range Multiplier = New Range i.e., for a 12 dB sensitivity increase 500 miles x 2 = 1,000 miles

Table 2. Effects of Sensitivity Increase
Effects of Sensitivity Increase - RF Cafe



% Range Decrease: Range - (% Range Decrease) x Range = New Range
i.e., for a 12 dB sensitivity decrease, 500 miles - 50% x 500 miles = 250 miles

Range Multiplier: Range x Range Multiplier = New Range i.e., for a 12 dB sensitivity decrease 500 miles x 0.5 = 250 miles

Table 3. Effects of Sensitivity Decrease
Effects of Sensitivity Decrease - RF Cafe

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