Inventors:
Gary L. Miller - Rockville MD, US
Ditmar H. Weiss - Arnold MD, US
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC
International Classification:
H01Q015/20, H01Q015/00
US Classification:
343915, 343718, 342 8, 342 10
Abstract:
Radar reflective rescue and safety devices comprise radar permeable coverings around a plurality of reflectors. The radar reflective material may be incorporated into inflatable life vests or foam filled life vests. Additionally, inflatable life rafts with radar reflective cells are able to help personnel lost at sea to be found by radar. The radar reflective cells may also be incorporated into an inflatable cylindrical tube as radar cross-section enhancer separate from other flotation devices. The reflectors are flexible metallic material that forms reflective cavities once the shell is inflated. The reflective cavities may appear as flat surfaces, tilted surfaces, corner reflectors or some combination thereof depending upon the orientation of the cavities to an incident radar wave.