TABLE OF CONTENTS The major part of this book is concerned with the detection of slow moving targets by a moving radar. Specifically, the suppression of clutter returns by means of space-time filter techniques is discussed in detail. A prerequisite for space-time techniques is a multichannel phased array antenna.
A major advantage of a phased array radar is the capability of multifunction operation. Multifunction operation means in essence that both search and tracking of targets can be fulfilled simultaneously.
The search function includes all kinds of signal processing tools, such as clutter or jammer reduction, target detection, and estimation of target angle and velocity. The accuracies of direction and velocity estimates are essential inputs for tracking algorithms. In this chapter we discuss the problem of estimating parameters of targets buried in heavy clutter. As before we assume that the target's radial velocity falls into the clutter bandwidth as determined by the radar platform velocity.
It is well known from spatial applications (parameter estimation by use of an array radar in the presence of interference) that efficient interference suppression is an essential part of the estimation procedure (NICKEL [376, 382, 379]). In this section we investigate how far estimation of target velocity and azimuth is possible under heavy clutter conditions. Some results by WARD [533] indicate that good parameter estimates can be achieved by use of optimum space-time processing. In this section we continue this work by analysing the problems in some more detail. The impact of various radar parameters as well...
