A method for testing radar stations using an unmanned aerial vehicle and airborne equipment

The paper proposes the modernization of the laboratory test method using an unmanned aerial vehicle, which houses a programmable generator with an on-board computer and other necessary auxiliary equipment. Radar testing is performed as in the flyby method but without using real targets. The es-sence of the method is to control the carrier's movement and the signal from the onboard generator output in such a way that the emitted signal corresponds to the actual radar operating conditions. The on-board computer calculates the test signal digital representation; a radio signal corresponding to the current operating mode of the station is emitted using a generator and an antenna. It is possible to control the angular coordinates, range and number of targets for the tested radar by changing the coordi-nates and structure of the emitted signal. The proposed method can be used to test various characteristics of radars. The paper presents the results of modeling from determining the locator software model characteristics. The carrier's software model is also used for modeling. Modeling consists in the fact that when the model time changes, the coordinates of the carrier and the simulated targets change; the locator software model performs the detection procedure according to the specified characteristics. At the end of the simulation, the coordinates of the carrier and the simulated targets are compared with the detected target coordinates. Based on the comparison results, it is possible to determine the functional characteristics of the locator. The proposed method can be useful in preparing for full-scale tests, as well as for evaluating characteristics that are difficult to evaluate by traditional methods, for example, when evaluating the range resolution, which involves the use of two aircrafts, the distance between which should decrease, which potentially increases the risk of collision.