RCS Aspect Explorer

Where the energy goes — rays off one shape, radar on the left

Returned to the radar Sent elsewhere Shape, with its normal or bisector

σ vs angle — physical optics at X-band (dBsm)

Shape

Incidence θ0°

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Sent back to the radar

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Peak σ

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With aspect

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Verdict

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Rays: geometric optics, where the energy goes (returned = within 2° of the radar's line of sight). Curve: physical optics, how much comes back, for a 0.5 m square plate, a dihedral of two 0.5 m square faces and a sphere of the same 0.25 m² projected area at X-band (λ = 3 cm); shadowing and edge diffraction ignored.

Notional faceted-target RCS vs aspect — 0° = nose-on, clockwise

RCS pattern (dBsm) Selected sector

Type-along: single-number candidates by sector (dBsm)
Sector	Samples	Max	Median	Mean (linear)

Sector picker

Start azimuth330°

End azimuth30°

The arc runs clockwise Start→End, wrapping through 0°. Set Start = End for the full 360° sweep. Stats are computed live over the highlighted arc.

Max

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brightest flash

Median

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the floor you see

Mean (linear)

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10·log₁₀(mean σ)

A search radar sweeping past sees the floor most of the time, so the median prices detection range (R ∝ σ^1/4). The spikes are brief, real flashes — but hard to track on. Neither number is wrong; they answer different questions.

Detection footprints vs heading — top-down plan view (km)

Radar holds a track Safe (outside its detection footprint) Aircraft heading

Heading and signature

Heading0°

Pattern RCS change0 dB

Show

Aspect a radar sees = bearing(aircraft→radar) − heading; its detection range grows with σ^1/4. Each shaded shape is a site's detection footprint (the familiar bugsplat): where that radar would detect you on this heading. You sit at the center; a site holds a track when you are inside its footprint, and every footprint turns with the aircraft. An RCS cut of N dB shrinks each one by 10^−N/40 (−30 dB: 18%). A site whose R_det toward you passes the 300 km edge is tagged with its true value.

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Per-radar exposure
Site	Aspect	σ (dBsm)	R_det (km)	Range (km)

RCS is a pattern, not a number — so orientation is survivability. Each radar sees a different aspect, and Block 1's monostatic law R_det ∝ σ^1/4 turns that aspect into a detection range. Point your low-RCS nose or tail at the threat that matters and its footprint pulls away; swing a spike onto it and a needle runs over you.