Utilizing Dynamic Scattering for Learning Radar Cross-Section of a Flapping-Wing Aircraft

Abstract

To study the radar cross-section (RCS) of a flapping-wing aircraft, a method of flapping-wing dynamic scattering is presented. The aircraft has two rigid wings and a fuselage similar to a bird’s body, where the plane shape of the wing is U-type. The aircraft model is established and the pitching and flapping actions of the wing are simulated. The electromagnetic scattering characteristics of aircraft under two flight modes, different radar wave frequencies and observation angles are investigated. The results show that in the given gliding mode, the fuselage provides the main contribution to the lateral peak value. For the given forward azimuth range in the flapping mode, increasing the azimuth can reduce the mean and peak of the aircraft dynamic RCS curve, while increasing the elevation angle will increase the peak and mean of the aircraft dynamic RCS curve. In the flapping mode, the mean RCS of the aircraft in the lateral backward azimuth is significantly lower than that in the lateral forward azimuth. For the given tail azimuth range, the increase of azimuth will increase the mean and peak level of aircraft dynamic RCS curve. The presented method is effective to study the dynamic RCS characteristics of the flapping-wing aircraft.