What is the purpose of a radar cross-section (RCS)?

The purpose of a radar cross-section (RCS) is fundamentally to quantify how detectable an object is by radar. RCS is a measure that indicates the amount of electromagnetic energy a target reflects back to the radar source. It is represented in terms of an area and reflects the size, shape, and material properties of the object in relation to the radar's wavelength. A larger RCS indicates that the object is easier for the radar to detect.

This measurement is crucial in various applications, including military, aviation, and automotive sectors, where understanding an object's visibility to radar is key for both detection and stealth technologies. In contrast, measuring the speed of radar waves or energy consumption of radar systems does not directly relate to the concept of RCS, nor does calculating the distance to target objects, which involves other radar characteristics and techniques rather than the reflectivity of the target itself.