Radar Cross Section Measurements (8-12 GHz) of Magnetic and Dielectric Microwave Absorbing Thin Sheets

The aim of this work is to present radar cross section (RCS) measurements of a panel constituted of a flat aluminum plate with and without radar absorbing materials (RAM) type thin rubber sheets, in the range of 8 – 12 GHz. Two different loads were evaluated in the RAM formulation: 1. Magnetic (ferrites MnZn, NiZn and MgZn based), and 2. Dielectric (conducting polymers polyaniline based). The measurements were carried out in the anechoic chamber at Centro Técnico Aeroespacial (CTA)-Ministério da Defesa facilities of São José dos Campos-SP, Brazil, and the RAM manufacturing in the Divisão de Materiais/IAE/CTA. The RCS measurements, in square meters, were estimated using theoretical values from reflectors with controlled dimensions. The RCS results showed a RCS reduction of 55-95% and of 40-80%, when the magnetic and the dielectric panels were impinged at normal incidence, respectively.