Beam-shape loss for multiple-beam digital array radars

This study considers beam-shape loss (BSL) for pencil-beam digital array radars (DARs), when multiple simultaneous receive beams are formed to cover the volume illuminated by each transmit beam. A general and valid computation procedure for the BSL is derived, and curves of BSL versus average detection probability and transmit beam spacing are given, for various kinds of receive beam arrangements and target types. The results show that the BSL for multiple-beam mode is commonly less than that for single-beam mode. The computation procedure and results are extensions of conventional ones for single-beam scanning radars and would be useful for range calculation and optimum beam spacing determination for modern multiple-beam DARs.