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Abstract

Structural improvement for, and method of, achieving radar cross section augmentation of a conical reentry space vehicle decoy having a dielectric heatshield by structuring the base of the decoy to meet certain conditions. Augmentation is achieved by structuring the decoy to have at the base a reflecting step with a 90 degree angle formed by the internal surface of heatshield and the surface of the base portion of the heatshield, where the dielectric constant of the heatshield is in a range of values predetermined by use of the equation: .epsilon..gtoreq.2(1+tan .alpha.)+tan.sup.2 .alpha., where .epsilon.=the dielectric constant of the heatshield, and .alpha.=the half angle cone of the conical decoy. Any incident radar signal impinging in a nose-on direction upon the external surface of the heatshield enters the heatshield, is completely double reflected within the reflecting step of the heatshield, and is re-directed out of the heatshield and in the opposite direction (i.e., in the direction of the nose of the decoy). The forward (i.e., nose-on) radar cross section of the decoy is thereby significantly augmented, without the appendages, external of the decoy, that are required by the prior art.

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First Claim