Enumeration of highly-correlated radar targets with eigenbeam-space post-Doppler CFAR

Abstract

Enumeration method for highly-correlated or coherent radar targets containing in Doppler bin of interest is proposed. The proposed method uses adaptive threshold to detect targets in beamspace and post-Doppler domain to improve probability of correct target enumeration in lower SNR (Signal to Noise power Ratio) with respect to MDL (Minimum Description Length). Threshold in the proposed method is controlled to maintain the user-specified probability of false enumeration. Moreover the proposed method has ability to enumerate target number equal to number of spatial channel. By computer simulation, the proposed method achieved 0.623 of probability of correct enumeration for two highly-correlated mainbeam targets of respective SNR = 20 dB impinging on four subarray linear antenna while MDL achieved 0.09 of the probability. Furthremore the proposed method achieved 0.609 of probability of correct enumeration in the same scenario but two subarray linear antenna whereas MDL is unable to enumerate target number due to exceeding the number of degrees-of-freedom (DOF) of the array antenna.