Sub-Aperture Processing Method for Clutter Suppression and Maneuvering Target Coherent Integration Using Airborne Bistatic Radar

Airborne bistatic radar faces two main challenges when operating in look-down mode. One challenge is the issue of range cell migration (RCM) and Doppler migration (DM) due to movement between target and radar, while another challenge is the non-stationary nature for clutter. For the sake of tackling these challenges, a combined approach using sub-aperture processing is given. The method involves compensating for clutter Doppler and implementing sliding window processing to achieve sub-aperture space-time processing and eliminate clutter. Subsequently, spatial-temporal filtering elements with consistent phase are combined and reorganized to create the reconstructed echo matrix. RCM correction and coherent integration within each sub-aperture are then achieved through aperture division. Finally, RCM/DM compensation is carried out across diverse sub-apertures to realize energy integration. The effectiveness for this methodology is confirmed through simulation and processing of measured data.