A Spherical Balloon with Internal Corner Reflector for Radar
Abstract:
An eight-diameter spherical balloon with an internal octahedral corner reflector for radar reflections has been developed. Operational tests indicated that the reflector is efficient at 3000 Mc with probably similar characteristics between 800 and 6000 Mc. Response at 9100 Mc was considered satisfactory through no quantitative tests were made. The balloon, when floating on water, was detected to a range of 20,000 yards when observed with an SG-3 radar at 3700 Mc and also with a Mark 8 Model 3 radar at 9100 Mc. It can be concluded that: The spherical balloon with integral octahedral corner reflector has proven satisfactory in performance to ranges of 20,000 yards when viewed with an SG-3 or Mark 8 Model 3 Radar, operating at 3700 Mc and 9100 Mc respectively, the device is capable of reasonable manufacture on a production basis, and with present materials, the minimum diameter for an air buoyant balloon of such design is eight feet.