What does radar cross-section (RCS) measure?

Radar cross-section (RCS) measures how detectable an object is by radar. It quantifies the amount of radar energy that is reflected back to the radar system when a signal is transmitted toward a target. The RCS is influenced by several factors, including the size, shape, and material properties of the target, as well as the frequency of the radar signal. A larger RCS value indicates that an object is more easily detected by radar, while a smaller RCS suggests that it is less detectable. This property is crucial in various applications, such as military stealth technology, where minimizing RCS helps in reducing the likelihood of detection.

The other options do not accurately capture the purpose of RCS; they pertain to different measurements related to radar technology. For instance, measuring the speed of a target relates more to Doppler radar principles, while determining the distance involves time-of-flight calculations of the radar signal. The angle of incident signals pertains to radar reflection principles and affects detection but does not represent what RCS quantifies. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the primary function of RCS in measuring detectability.