Analysis of the Blanking Impact on the Loss of Radar Echo

　　ObjectivesTo support evaluating the impact of the blanking on radar detection performance, the loss probabilities of the radar echoes caused by the blanking were studied. Methods The influence of the blanking on the radar echo waveforms was investigated. The response, namely the output of the matched filter to the residual after the echo being erased by the blanking gate, was derived. Based on the technology of radar detecting, the moment of detecting the target and the change of detection voltage of the radar with the blanking gate were studied, and the equivalent loss probabilities of the echo were defined. The varying rule of the residual echo being analyzed, the expressions were derived for the average loss probabilities and the loss probabilities of the periodic echoes both caused by the periodic blanking gates. Also, the expression was obtained for the average loss probabilities of the echoes caused by blanking gates with time-varying duty cycles. Finally, the verification was implemented by a simulation. Each loss probability of the echoes was compared with a combination of the calculation results and numerical simulation. The maximum absolute deviation between the two was about 1.21%, which could be ignored.
　　Results The mathematical models for the loss probabilities and the average loss probabilities of the echoes are obtained and the accuracy has been verified. Conclusions The research has achieved a quantitative evaluation of the impact of the blanking on the loss of the echo, which provides support for accurately analyzing the detection performance of the radar with the blanking and making decisions on the use of blanking measures.