Prediction of SAR images of ships

Racal-Thorn Wells has developed the high frequency radar cross section (RCS) prediction code, FACETS (frequency asymptotic code for electromagnetic target scattering). This code relies on frequency asymptotic electromagnetic techniques, principally physical optics, physical theory of diffraction and geometric optics ray tracing. FACETS is the prediction code that sits at the heart of a suite of programs that make up the FACETS Electromagnetic Analysis System (FEMAS). FEMAS has been developed for translating CAD target surface descriptions into a form suitable for input to the FACETS analysis program and facilitating analysis of the results. The first section of this paper discusses the FACETS RCS prediction code and the second section gives examples of how this tool has been used in the collaborative venture between Racal-Thorn Wells and DERA Space Department, to produce simulated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of ships from spaceborne radar geometries.