Use this electronics calculation for a first-pass component, converter, signal, motor, or sensor estimate when the stated operating conditions and units match the device data.

Antenna gain (linear)

Required number input.

Minimum detectable power (W)

Required number input.

Transmit power (W)

Required number input.

Radar cross section (m²)

Required number input.

Wavelength (m)

Required number input.

Compute monostatic radar maximum detection range as the fourth root of the radar range equation numerator over (4 x pi)^3 x Pmin, with (4 x pi)^3 approximated by 1984.4017. The tool evaluates the supplied inputs together and returns the named outputs below; it does not infer omitted operating conditions or change the units shown.^[1]

Maximum range (m)

The resulting maximum range returned as a number.

• Radar range, received power, Doppler, cross section, and pulse-compression formulas depend on target aspect and fluctuation, waveform, antenna pattern, propagation, clutter, losses, noise figure, integration, detection probability, and false-alarm criterion. A nominal RCS is not constant across frequency or view angle.
• Use finite inputs in the displayed units and preserve more precision than the final presentation requires. Independently verify safety-critical, financial, compliance, or production decisions.

Check the result against the current datasheet and worst-case operating corners, then verify the circuit or measurement with simulation and bench testing where failure matters.

• Radar Received Power

  Compute monostatic radar received power via the radar range equation with (4 x pi)^3 approximated by 1984.4017.

• RCS From Power Ratio

  Compute radar cross section from the received power via the radar range equation sigma = Pr x (4pi)^3 x R^4 / (Pt x G^2 x lambda^2).

• RCS From Received Power

  Solve the radar equation for target cross section rcsM2 = Prx * (4*pi)^3 * R^4 / (Ptx * G^2 * lambda^2) with all linear units.