An Improved Radon-Fourier Transform Coherent Integration Method

Radar plays an increasingly important role in target detection because of its all-weather detection capability. Furthermore, to detect weak and flexible target, effectively coherent integration method is required in radar signal processing to enhance the target signal intensity. Based on the Radon-Fourier transform (RFT) algorithm, which is widely used to solve the problem of weak target detection, range migration and Doppler ambiguity in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environment, an improved multiple pulse repetition intervals (PRIs) RFT (MRFT) coherent integration method is presented in this paper. The method adopts the Linear frequency modulated (LFM) signal with three different PRIs as the transmitted signal, then combines with the RFT outputs of three RPIs to enhance the target energy and suppress the blind speed side lobe (BSSL) caused by RFT. Meanwhile, the design rules and constraints of this method are also discussed in detail. The experiments with simulation data and real measured data are provided to demonstrate that the designed method can get better BSSL suppression capability and higher detection rate than conventional methods.