Analysis of Communication Symbol Embedding in FH MIMO Radar Platforms

Information embedding into the emission of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) frequency hopping (FH) radar is analyzed. It is assumed that the radar is primary under dual function radar communication system platforms. phase shift keying (PSK) communication symbols are embedded in each hop of the FH waveforms. The impact of embedding is a significant reduction in range sidelobe levels. We examine the impact of PSK symbol embedding on the power spectral density (PSD) of the MIMO radar. It is shown that there is spectral leakage due to the disruption of the continuous phase of the FH waveforms by the PSK symbol embedding. The trade-off between low sidelobe levels and low spectral leakage is analyzed. To maintain the phase continuity between the frequency hops, modulation of FH waveforms with frequency shift keying (FSK) symbols is considered and its performance is compared with that of the FH/PSK radar communication waveforms.