Moving target detection in over-the-horizon radar using adaptive chirplet transform

Abstract

In over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) moving target detection, the signal to clutter ratio (SCR) is low. One method to detect a moving target is to first reject the clutter and improve the SCR before the detection, such as the adaptive Fourier transform developed by Root (see SPIE Conference, San Diego, p.19-24, July 1998) when a target moves uniformly. When a target does not move uniformly, the Fourier based techniques for the target detection including super resolution techniques may not work well. We replace the Fourier transform by the adaptive chirplet transform in the Doppler processing in OTHR when a target moves non-uniformly.