Elevation Pattern Analysis of Common Passive Bistatic Radar Illuminators of Opportunity

In this paper, the elevation coverage of common passive radar illuminators of opportunity is evaluated. In constructing radar performance metrics, it is imperative to include the radiation characteristics of the source, both in azimuth and elevation. Many passive radar performance studies have considered only one plane, the azimuth, neglecting to incorporate the elevation plane in models. The noninclusion of elevation patterns has primarily been due to lack of precise detail of their specification and nature. The authors have consulted the broadcast antenna manufacturing industry and present here transmitter elevation patterns for the three prevalent passive radar illuminators of opportunity: frequency modulation radio, digital audio broadcast, and digital video broadcast terrestrial. The patterns presented are typical of broadcast patterns in use throughout the world. The patterns have already been used by a number of national research institutes for more accurate passive radar system modeling. Simulations will show that airborne targets frequently reside outside of the elevation main lobe, which has direct consequences for target detection performance.