In this study, we propose a systematic performance evaluation process based on complex received currents for searching and tracking radars. This process incorporates an approach to simplified geometries of array antennas and cannon platforms that accurately represent the electromagnetic properties of the original geometries. The simplified geometries are used in full-wave electromagnetic simulations to compute the current magnitudes and phases induced in array antenna ports, and the values are saved as complex steering vectors. In addition, we propose a novel metric for evaluating the received performance distortions using the saved complex steering vectors, which were cross-checked with a conventional pattern distortion metric. To verify the feasibility of the proposed process, the optimal placement of array antennas for a commercial searching and tracking radar system was determined. The results demonstrate that average magnitudes and phases distortions of less than 1 mA and 3°, respectively, can be obtained when the array antennas are placed at 0.6and 1.1-m heights above the platform.
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