Pulse Doppler signature of a rotary-wing aircraft

Field measurements of a modified Sikorsky S-55 helicopter target were carried out to investigate rotary-wing aircraft Doppler radar signature phenomenology. The results of the data analysis with regard to classification and identification of the aircraft based on its signature are presented. It was found that using the Doppler radar return and appropriate feature extraction techniques, the helicopter's design features can be estimated. Target backscatter from the main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, or hub can be used for target detection, acquisition, and classification as a rotary-wing aircraft. The extraction of configuration and blade count features can further define the helicopter for identification