Bimodal clutter MTI filter for staggered PRF radars

Abstract

A low-cost, simple adaptive moving target indication (MTI) system for weather and ground clutter rejection is described. The system will be retrofitted into a number of existing staggered PRF radars in order to improve their detection capabilities. The system consists of an adaptive digital MTI filter with complex coefficients, weather clutter map, and clutter parameter estimation unit. The possibility of increasing weather clutter attenuation by the use of a digital MTI filter with complex coefficients has been verified experimentally in the L-band PSR ATC radar AVIA-C, and preliminary experimental results are presented.<>