Adaptive space-time processing with systolic algorithm: experimental results using recorded live data

The authors present results concerning the processing of live clutter data recorded by an airborne radar equipped with an array of eight antennas. Clutter and jammer cancellation is achieved with a space-time algorithm configured as a trapezoidal systolic array. We discuss the operational problem related to airborne early warning surveillance radar, describe the airborne radar system for data collection together with cartographic data that identify the actual location where the data files were collected, and include the space-time algorithm and the corresponding systolic array architecture. The various data files used in the processing experiments are shown. The data files relate to ground clutter, littoral clutter (sea and ground) and jamming. For each data file we have computed the two-dimensional space-time power spectral density, the eigenvalue spectrum and the probability density function of the in-phase and quadrature signal components. The results of the performance evaluation are given. The performance are mainly expressed in terms of improvement factor (IF) and visibility curves (i.e. IF versus the target Doppler frequency). Simulated target echoes and test targets injected in the radar receiver are used for the performance estimate. Also live vehicular traffic has been detected.