Radar Antenna Calibration Using Range-Doppler Data

Abstract

This paper presents a method for est,imating an airhorne antenna array’s spatial response pattern, or array manifold, using radar clutter as a source of calibration data. Doppler processing is used to isolate returns in range and azimuth bins: this da ta is then used in conjunction with a low-order Fourier series model t o estimate the response pattern. The computational problem which results is one referred to as Least Squares with Data Scaling (LSDS), whose solution makes possible the elimination of ambiguity between incident field strength and antenna element gain, to within a single complex constant. The prior knowledge of the element location can be used to improve calibration accuracy and significantly reduce the required Fourier series model order.