On the information gain obtainable by exploitation of the monopulse difference channel for an X-band high range resolution radar evaluated using asymptotic EM techniques

Abstract

This paper addresses the prediction of the maximum gain in recognition performance of a High Range Resolution (HRR) X-band radar when use is made of the monopulse difference channel to obtain extra information about the target being tracked. The study was conducted for the F-14 as a target and the azimuth difference channel as the extra signal. Use is made of the information theoretic concept of mutual information (MI) to estimate the gain in information by exploitation of the extra signal available in a monopulse radar. Returns from the target were simulated using an asymptotic RCS prediction code. The information content of the sum channel only is compared to the information content of the sum and difference channel signal for VV and HH polarized antennas.