Joint STAP-WVD based SAR slowly moving target detection and imaging

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose a joint STAP-WVD based slowly moving target detection and imaging approach for an airborne phased array SAR system. The difference in models of received echoes backscattered from the extended scene and point like moving target between the SAR and airborne early warning (AEW) system is investigated and it shows that the quadric phase can not be ignored in the SAR system as in the AEW system due to its long coherent processing period. A modified STAP is put forward to suppress the clutter whilst retaining the phase history of the moving target. The concept of the "weight signal" is proposed to retrieve the phase history of the moving target, which is damaged by the STAP due to the optimum SAR clutter cancellation. Computer simulation results, which lend support to the conclusions reached through theoretical analysis, are presented throughout the paper.