Abstract: In this paper, the electromagnetic (EM) scattering characteristics of inhomogeneous plasma-coated target are studied by volumetric shooting and bouncing rays (VSBR) method. The paper focuses on the propagation characteristics of EM waves in medium and the analysis methods of scattering. In order to improve the ray tracing efficiency in plasma medium, an iterative raytracing acceleration technique is proposed to solve the problem that the amount of transmitted and reflected rays increases rapidly. Some simulations show the volumetric shooting and bouncing rays method can calculate the scattering characteristics of target coated with inhomogeneous plasma more quickly and accurately compared with the traditional shooting and bouncing rays method. Furthermore, the influence of plasma sheath on the radar cross section of Apollo re-entry capsule is studied with the proposed method, and it is verified that the plasma has a certain reduction effect on the target radar cross section.