Tool 07

Radar Range Equation

Estimate radar received power, receiver noise, SNR, and maximum detection range using the monostatic radar range equation.

Parameters

Enter transmit power, antenna gains, target RCS, range, receiver bandwidth, noise figure, and losses. Use the sweep graph to inspect range, frequency, or RCS sensitivity.

Frequency
Range
Tx Power
dBm
Tx Gain
dBi
Rx Gain
dBi
Target RCS
dBsm
Receiver Bandwidth
Noise Figure
dB
System Loss
dB
Advanced Settings
Required SNR
dB
System Temperature
K

Sweep Graph

X Axis
Y Axis

Reference Values

Frequency [GHz]
10.000
Wavelength [mm]
29.979
Noise Power
-110.975 dBm
Bandwidth [MHz]
1.000
Required SNR
10.000 dB

Formulas

Radar Range Equation

Monostatic radar received power using separate transmit and receive antenna gains.

Pr=PtGtGrλ2σ(4π)3R4LP_r = \frac{P_t G_t G_r \lambda^2 \sigma}{(4\pi)^3 R^4 L}

Thermal Noise

Receiver noise power from bandwidth, temperature, and noise figure.

N=kTBFN = k T B F

SNR

Signal-to-noise ratio from received power and receiver noise power.

SNRdB=Pr,dBm−NdBmSNR_{dB} = P_{r,dBm} - N_{dBm}

Maximum Range

Maximum range that satisfies the required SNR threshold.

Rmax=PtGtGrλ2σ(4π)3LNSNRreq4R_{max} = \sqrt[4]{\frac{P_t G_t G_r \lambda^2 \sigma}{(4\pi)^3 L N SNR_{req}}}

This first version uses the single-pulse monostatic radar equation. Processing gain, pulse integration, atmospheric loss, and detection probability are not included yet.