Multi-frequency RCS Reduction Characteristics of Shape Stealth with MLFMA with Improved MMN

Three new control factors are presented for calculating the multipole mode number (MMN) efficiently and precisely. The effects of these control factors on the number of integral samples and the precision of multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) are investigated. A new approach based on control factors which is proven to be able to improve the computational efficiency and reduce the needed memory significantly as well as ensuring the proper precision. For three aircraft models, the improved MLFMA is employed to analyze their multi-frequency scattering characteristics. It is found that aircraft shape can influence radar cross section (RCS) in different frequency zones. Both the multi-frequency RCS reduction characteristics of shape stealth aircraft and the conventional aircraft with stealth design taken into account are investigated, and the results show that shape stealth exhibits significant RCS reduction in the resonance and high-frequency zones, and with a weaker influence in the Rayleigh zone. Compared with radar absorbing material (RAM), shape stealth yields a wider multi-frequency RCS reduction. The above-mentioned results can be applied to stealth design for multiple frequencies or even for all frequencies.