Accuracy Estimation in Anechoic Chamber Testing

T h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t a m i s s i l e ' s operational electromagnetic environment can be a c c u r a t e l y s i m u l a t e d in an RF a n e c h o i c c h a m b e r b r i n g s c e r t a i n e r r o r s i n t o e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c c o m p a t i b i l i t y testing. A c h i e f s o u r c e of e r r o r is the d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n the p l a n e w a v e i l l u m i n a t i o n of an operational environment and the illumination of a d i r e c t i v e t e s t antenna. A m e t h o d o f m o m e n t s t e c h n i q u e e s t i m a t e s the s u r f a c e currents on a missile when illuminated by a p l a n e w a v e a n d b y t w o s i m p l e a n t e n n a s . T h e s e c u r r e n t s a r e c o m p a r e d to m e a s u r e the c o r r e s p o n d e n c e of the test and o p e r a t i o n a l e n v i r o n m e n t s . S i m p l e g u i d e l i n e s a r e d e v e l o p e d w h i c h a l l o w t est e n g i n e e r s to e s t i m a t e and m i n i m i z e this s o u r c e of e r r o r in RF anechoic chamber testing.