Range compression strategies for passive radar on airborne platforms

This paper focuses on range compression aspects to be considered in the signal processing of passive radars. In particular it focuses on passive radar systems mounted on moving platforms for ground moving target indication on the one hand and on synthetic-aperture radar on the other hand. As the signals of opportunity are not created for radar purposes, the underlying signal structure can lead to ambiguities and sidelobes and thus impede target detection or decrease the signal-to-noise ratio. Careful signal processing algorithms must be applied on the range compression stage in order to deal with these issues. Here we provide an overview of possible range compression techniques and give a suggestion which technique is the most appropriate depending on the type of application.