GMTI STAP in target-rich environments: site-specific analysis

Abstract

We address the problem of training data corruption in space-time adaptive processing (STAP) for ground moving target indication (GMTI) radar scenarios characterized by high densities of ground targets. A site-specific clutter simulation is used to demonstrate the impact that target signals in the training data have on STAP performance. Measured MCARM data results are presented that reveal similar performance trends as those observed in the simulations. A strategy for mitigating the deleterious effects of targets in the training data using a priori knowledge of the radar environment (e.g., locations of roads) to edit the training data is presented.