RF stealth for small UAS: characterization and evaluation of the impacts of RFI and RCS

Abstract

Different techniques have been developed and evaluated to address both the RCS minimization and EMC/EMI issues related to propeller modulations of small UAVs, which are part of the issues of survivability of small UAS in counter-UAS environments: (1) surface impedance characterization, (2) radar cross section measurements, and (3) nearfield probing. Initial results from some of these evaluations and analyses, especially the new techniques developed, are presented.