Abstract: A method for reducing the false alarm rate, i.e. the number of alarms of fixed targets erroneously declared as moving targets in the radar images of two- or multi-channel MTI radar devices, wherein the suppression of fixed target echoes over the moving target echoes within the main antenna lobe occurs through a space time adaptive processing—STAP—filter. The method uses a comparison of the amplitude amounts or power values of the range Doppler frequency cells with a threshold that can be specified in constant terms and summary of the resulting alarms. A target function is compared with defined test functions and selection criteria are determined from suitable combined calculation methods that are applied to the test and target functions for the purpose of classifying a respective target alarm as a moving or fixed target alarm.

Abstract: A filter, includes a first order band pass filter configured to process non-zero amplitude gated radar return samples and process a portion of received zero amplitude return samples. The filter also calculates past filter outputs based on filter outputs generated during previous non-zero gated radar return samples.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for suppressing external interference in radar data provided by a plurality of sensors from a main sensor array, the data being pre-processed. The noise suppression system includes a first processing module and a second processing module. The first processing module receives the radar data and produces matched radar data while the second processing module receives the radar data and produces mis-matched radar data. The system further includes a beamformer that is in communication with the first processing module and an adaptive beamformer that is in communication with the second processing module and the beamformer. The beamformer receives the matched radar data and produces beamformed matched radar data.

Abstract: An in-phase/quadrature component (IQ) mixer is configured to reject returns from a negative doppler shift swath in order to mitigate corruption of returns of a positive doppler shift swath. The mixer includes a sample delay element which produces a quadrature component from the in-phase component of an input signal. Further included are a plurality of mixer elements, a plurality of low pass filters, a plurality of decimators, and a plurality of all pass filters which act upon both the in-phase and quadrature components of the input signal. Also, a subtraction element is included which is configured to subtract the filtered and down sampled quadrature component from the filtered and down sampled in-phase component.

Abstract: A method (100) for coherent change subtraction of mission and reference synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data (20′,20″) is provided. The method (100) forms (102) mission and reference images (22′,22″) from the mission and reference SAR data (20′,20″), registers (122) the mission and reference images (22′,22″) on a common plane to form registered mission and reference images (24′,24″), and forms (124) the registered mission and reference images (24′,24″) into at least one patch (26) containing mission and reference data (28′,28″). The method (100) then processes (126) each patch (26) by removing (130) linear phase terms (34) from the mission data (28′), trimming (142) non-overlapping spectra of the mission and reference data (28′,28″), and balancing (144) phases and amplitudes of the mission data (28′).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for radio communication are presented. The method employs an antenna having multiple transceivers, each capable for receiving a part-signal of a signal received by the antenna. The phase and amplitude of the part-signals are modulated with a code that corresponds to the part-signal. The part-signals are then digitally processed using an analog-to-digital converter, and then demodulated with a demodulation code that is an inverse of the modulation code. The demodulated signal is then divided into separable part-signals which correspond to different reception patterns of the antenna.

Abstract: This invention relates to an adaptive detection system and method for analyzing range-doppler-azimuth data for target detection. The detection system has a threshold calculator for calculating a threshold value that is based on the standard deviation of the range-doppler-azimuth data and a predetermined probability of detection. The detection system also has a detection module in communication with the threshold calculator to receive the threshold value. The detection module calculates an estimated target amplitude and an estimated noise floor amplitude based on the range-doppler data that is located in a detection window. The detection module detects a target when the difference between the estimated target amplitude and the estimated noise floor amplitude is larger than the threshold value.

Abstract: A radar device and a method of detecting interference conditions of a radar device includes the following steps: detecting irregularities in reception of signals, deactivating the transmission branch, and detecting the presence or absence of target signals.

Abstract: A method of recognising a radar target comprises producing a sequence of Doppler spectra of radar returns form a scene and producing therefrom a sequence of Doppler feature vectors for a target in the scene. Hidden Markov modelling (HMM) is then used to identify the sequence of Doppler feature vectors as indicating a member of a particular class of targets. HMM is used to identify the sequence of Doppler feature vectors by assigning to each feature vector an occurrence probability by selecting a probability distribution or state from a set thereof associated with a class of targets, multiplying the occurrence probabilities together to obtain an overall probability, repeating for other probability distributions in the set to determine a combination of probability distributions giving highest overall probability for that class of target, then repeating for at least one other class of targets and selecting the target class as being that which yields the highest overall occurrence probability.

Abstract: A method and bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging system generate an image of a target area without knowledge of the position or velocity of the illuminator. The system includes an illuminator to illuminate a target area with a null-monopulse radiation pattern interleaved with a sum radiation pattern. The illuminator adjusts the phase terms of the sum radiation pattern to maintain a static electromagnetic field pattern at the target area. A receiver receives the radiation patterns reflected from the target area and generates phase compensation terms by correlating a measured electromagnetic vector field with the known static electromagnetic vector field. The phase compensation terms are used to generate an image of the target area.

Abstract: A surface wave radar system including a receive antenna array (20, 22) for generating receive signals, and a data processing system (24) for processing received data representing the receive signals to mitigate ionospheric clutter. The received data is range and Doppler processed, and a spatial adaptive filter (52) is trained using training data selected from the processed data. The training data includes ionospheric clutter data and excludes cells which contain target data and substantial sea clutter. The processed data is filtered using the filter (52), which may be based on loaded sample matrix inversion. The antenna array (20,22) may be two-dimensional having an L or T shape.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient phase error correction in range migration algorithm (RMA) for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems implemented by making proper shifts for each position dependent phase history so that phase correction can readily be performed using the aligned phase history data during batch processing. In its simplest form, the invention (44) is comprised of two main parts. First (60), alignment of the phase error profile is achieved by proper phase adjustment in the spatial (or image) domain using a quadratic phase function. Second (62), the common phase error can be corrected using autofocus algorithms. Two alternative embodiments of the invention are described. The first embodiment (44a) adds padded zeros to the range compressed data in order to avoid the wrap around effect introduced by the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform). This embodiment requires a third step (64): the target dependent signal support needs to be shifted back to the initial position after phase correction.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing phase errors in a multiple receiver array use three non-collinear transmitters transmitting first, second, and third signals to a target and receiving corresponding signals reflected from the target using the multiple receiver array. In one embodiment, each transmitter transmits a characteristic signal which can be distinguished from each other by the receivers. In one embodiment, each transmitter transmits a slightly different monotone frequency that is preferably outside any imaging bandwidth. The sheared products computed from heterodyne measurements at the receivers in the array based on the reflected signals from the three transmitters are used to determine and correct for the combined transmitter/receiver phase errors at each of the receivers in the array.

Abstract: A method for exciting an antenna with a waveform having a burst width and pulse width scaled proportionately with a selected range scale and a temporal filter to address any ambiguities in range resulting from the transmission of a signal in accordance with the novel waveform. The inventive filtering method includes the step of scanning a beam including a plurality of pulses of electromagnetic energy. The step of scanning the beam includes the step of outputting a beam excited by a waveform having a burst width and pulse width scaled proportionately with a selected range scale. Reflections of these pulses are received as return signals. The returns are processed to extract range in range rate measurements. The range and range rate measurements are compressed to form a plurality of range bins. The pulses are selectively weighted to reduce sidelobes resulting from a subsequent Fast Fourier transform (FFT) operation.

Abstract: A Doppler radar apparatus includes a first oscillator for generating a first sweep signal to repeatedly sweep a predetermined frequency range periodically; a second oscillator for generating a second sweep signal having sweep properties identical to those of the first sweep signal, the second oscillator 41b starting sweep before the first oscillator finishes frequency sweep; a power combiner for combining the first and second sweep signals to generate a transmission signal; a switch for receiving, as inputs, the first and second sweep signals, and switching an output between the first and second sweep signals synchronously with the timing when sweep with each of the first and second sweep signals is terminated; and a mixer for mixing a reception signal coming from a part of the transmission signal reflected in a target and received, and an output signal from the switch with each other to produce an output signal from the mixer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and processing system for radar detection and tracking of a target using monopulse ratio processing comprising the following steps. First, receiving a signal comprised of a plurality of sum azimuth beams and difference azimuth beams. Then staggering the received signal. Next, filtering and localizing a clutter signal which is a portion of the received sum and azimuth beams. Then adaptively forming a sub-array sum azimuth beam and a sub-array difference azimuth beam from the filtered output to cancel the clutter. The adaptive beam forming including the determination of a sum and difference beam weight where the adaptive weight be equated to a product of the weight and the respective covariance matrices of the sum and difference beams, the product having no constraint points.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a radar target of interest in the presence of radar jamming interference include a sub-array beamformer, a sum and difference beamformer, a weight calculator, a composite beamformer, and a monopulse ratio calculator. A plurality of sub-arrays is formed from antenna array element data. Respective sum and difference beams are formed for each of the plurality of sub-arrays. A single weight is formulated from the sum and difference beams, respectively. Composite sum beams are formed in accordance with the sum weights and the sum beams, and composite difference beams are formed in accordance with the difference weights and the difference beams. Composite beams are formed such that at least one null of each of the composite beams is steered toward an interference and a boresight gain of each of the composite beams is maintained.

Abstract: A radar system and method for detecting and tracking a target of interest in the presence of interference, wherein the interference emits interfering signals, includes a receiver for receiving the interfering signals directly from the interference. The receiver also receives reflected signals, wherein the reflected signals is the interfering signals reflected by the target of interest. The interfering signals and the reflected signals are compared to detect the target of interest. In one embodiment, the reflected signals and the interfering are cross-correlated. The results of the cross-correlation are used to obtain range, position, and velocity information about the target of interest from a range/Doppler map.

Abstract: In a process for computing the radar signals present at the output of two subapertures of an antenna of a two-channel radar system, the two subaperture channels are combined by means of a wave guide part to a sum and difference channel, and the signals of the sum and difference channel are used to compute the radar signals at the subaperture channels.

Abstract: A wideband adaptive digital beamforming technique for maintaining a high range resolution profile of a target in motion in the presence of jamming utilizes a sequence of adaptively calculated narrowband jamming cancellation weights. The adaptive weights are calculated such that the desired frequency dependent gain is maintained toward the target center. These adaptive weights tend to preserve the range profile quality and low range sidelobes. This technique also tends to eliminate signal cancellation problems as well as adaptive weight modulation effects.

Abstract: A Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system and method capable of detecting moving targets which includes a platform that moves over a number of objects, such as a ground surface, and supports radar equipment which reproduces the objects by means of a fast backprojection synthetic aperture technique via at least two antennas without requirement as to directivity or fractional bandwidth. The imaging process is divided into three steps which are carried out in a determined order, the steps and the order being formation of sub-aperture beams at one speed, performing clutter suppression, and detection of moving targets.

Abstract: A method for operating a radar system includes the steps of overlapping mainlobe clutter interference and feedthrough interference in a Doppler output signal of a coherent pulse Doppler radar including the step of phase modulating each pulse of a transmit signal wherein the selected phase modulation is derived from a linear phase ramp required to shift the mainlobe clutter interference into alignment with the feedthrough interference while being held constant over the duration of a pulse. With such an arrangement, the constant phase shift across each pulse has no effect on the performance of intrapulse compression modulation and results in pulse to pulse phase shifts easily being accomplished with existing phase shifters.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing phase errors in a multiple receiver array use three non-collinear transmitters transmitting first, second, and third signals to a target and receiving corresponding signals reflected from the target using the multiple receiver array. In one embodiment, each transmitter transmits a characteristic signal which can be distinguished from each other by the receivers. In one embodiment, each transmitter transmits a slightly different monotone frequency that is preferably outside any imaging bandwidth. The sheared products computed from heterodyne measurements at the receivers in the array based on the reflected signals from the three transmitters are used to determine and correct for the combined transmitter/receiver phase errors at each of the receivers in the array.

Abstract: A radar system and technique provide the capability to detect a target of interest and maintain the detection in the presence of multiple mainlobe and sidelobe jamming interference. The system and technique utilize the versatility of digital beamforming to form sub-arrays for canceling jamming interference. Jamming is adaptively suppressed in the sub-arrays prior to using conventional deterministic methods to form the sum, &Sgr;, and difference, &Dgr;, beams for monopulse processing. The system and technique provide the ability to detect a target of interest, provide an undistorted monopulse ratio, m, and maintain target angle estimation, in the presence of multiple mainlobe and multiple sidelobe jammers. Further, this system and technique are not constrained by requiring a priori knowledge of the jamming interference.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a receiving/transmitting apparatus for radiating a predetermined signal and receiving a signal arriving as a response to the radiated signal, and to a radar equipment in which the receiving/transmitting apparatus is installed. In the receiving/transmitting apparatus and the radar equipment according to the present invention, high coherency is reliably achieved without any great enlargement in hardware scale. Therefore, it is possible to realize with high reliability improvement in performance and reliability as well as price reduction, downsizing, and running cost reduction in apparatuses and systems to which the present invention is applied.

Abstract: For interferometric and/or tomographic remote sensing by means of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) one to N receiver satellites and/or transmitter satellites and/or transceiver satellites with a horizontal across-track shift the same or differing in amplitude form a configuration of satellites orbiting at the same altitude and same velocity. Furthermore, a horizontal along-track separation, constant irrespective of the orbital position, is adjustable between the individual receiver satellites.

Abstract: A method for processing squint-mapped synthetic aperture radar data of the present invention. The inventive method includes the steps of effecting range compression of the data; deskewing the data; performing a Fourier transform with respect to the deskewed data; providing a range migration interpolation of the transformed data; effecting a frequency remapping of the range interpolated data; and performing an inverse Fourier transform with respect to the deskewed data.

Abstract: For optimizing the computing expenditures when using STAP filters in real-time systems, the determination of the filter coefficients and the filtering of radar source data of the distance Doppler matrices {right arrow over (X)}left and {right arrow over (X)}right of two adjacent reception channels are carried out in the frequency domain. On the basis of {right arrow over (X)}left and {right arrow over (X)}right, a distance Doppler matrix {right arrow over (Y)}clutterfree is created, at which the echoes of fixed targets are suppressed and the echoes of moving targets a coherently intensified.

Abstract: A system and method for mitigating co-channel interference is disclosed. A radar system detects targets from received signals at an antenna array. The received signals include direct signals and target signals transmitted from remote transmitters. An antenna array receives the signals. A signal processing system is coupled to the antenna array to perform processing operations on the received signals. The processing system includes a primary cancellation component and a secondary cancellation component. A primary illuminator signal is cancelled from the received signals by the primary cancellation component. An adaptive beam former obtains a secondary illuminator signal from the received signals. A reference regenerator regenerates the secondary illuminator signal. An adaptive cancellation filter removes noise from the secondary illuminator signal. The secondary cancellation component mitigates co-channel interference by canceling the secondary illuminator signal from the received signals.

Abstract: A method and system for using the main diagonal elements of the Cholesky factor of the spatial covariance matrix to estimate the number of jammers present, by evaluating the AIC (or other) test function using the Cholesky diagonal elements in place of covariance eigenvalues. The Cholesky factor is often available as a by-product of adaptive beamforming.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement suitable for embedded signal processing, comprising a number of computational units (100), each computational unit comprising a number of processing elements (20) capable of working independently and transmitting data simultaneously. Said computational units are arranged in cluster, work independently, and transmit data simultaneously, and that said processing elements (20) are globally and regularly inter-connected optically in a hypercube topology and transformed into a planar waveguide.

Abstract: A radar for locating and tracking objects based on the use of a pulsed waveform, each pulse of the pulsed waveform being made up of a plurality of spectral components having different frequencies, including an antenna. The radar further includes a transmitter operatively coupled to the antenna for generating the plurality of spectral components that make up each pulse of the pulsed waveform and a receiver operatively coupled to the antenna for receiving signals at the frequencies of the plurality of spectral components.

Abstract: A radar device and a method of detecting interference conditions of a radar device includes the following steps: detecting irregularities in reception of signals, deactivating the transmission branch, and detecting the presence or absence of target signals.

Abstract: A radar device and a method of suppressing interference in a radar device in which signals are transmitted with a carrier frequency, and the signals are transmitted as pulsed signals with a pulse repetition frequency, the pulse repetition frequency or the carrier frequency being varied during operation of the radar device.

Abstract: The invention provides an adaptive sensor array apparatus (100) incorporating a multielement antenna (12) for receiving radiation from a scene (‘S’) and generating signals (e) in response thereto and a processing unit (114) for processing the signals (e) to provide an output signal (y). The unit (114) comprises an adaptive weight computer (136) arranged to generate weighting vectors (w) which are used in the unit (114) to attenuate contributions to the output signal (y) arising from sources of jamming radiation in the scene and transmit contributions to the output signal (y) arising from wanted targets therein. The apparatus (100) incorporates a non-adaptive beamformer unit (132) for preconditioning the signals (e) before they are passed to the computer (136). Preconditioning the signals (e) enhances performance of the apparatus (100) relative to conventional adaptive sensor array apparatus (10).

Abstract: A complex frequency shift keyed homodyned diplexed radar system and method that can accurately determine the range of one or more targets where the targets have little or no velocity relative to the radar system. The system and method generates a FSK electromagnetic wave that is reflected off the one or more targets and converted into a delayed or phase shifted baseband signal and undelayed baseband signal where the delayed and an undelayed baseband signal may be analyzed to determine the range of the one or more targets.

Abstract: A pulse Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) signal discriminator has a soft-limiting IF amplifier chain for receiving an IF signal to soft-limit any high-peak IF signals in the IF signal and a high-peak amplitude compressive circuit followed by an integrator which integrates the signal over a predetermined time to produce a high output when a LPI signal is present. The integrator is connected to a threshold detector which outputs a trigger signal when a high output from the integrator is received. In a receiver having a plurality of channels for received signals from a number of antenna, one channel for each antenna, the received signals are down converted to IF signals and applied to analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) which are connected to a digital processor.

Abstract: A method is proposed for use on a coherent Doppler radar system for the purpose of reducing the clutter and mutual interference in the coherent Doppler radar system. The echoed radar signal from the target object is converted into a Range-Doppler Domain output signal. If the Range-Doppler Domain output signal indicates the presence of mutual interference, a Crisscrossing CFAR method is selected to compute for the CFAR back-ground value; otherwise an Area CFAR method is selected. A target-detection logic circuit is then used to obtain the radar information about the target object. By the proposed method, the output signal of the target-detection logic circuit is substantially free from clutter and mutual interference, which is further converted into a radar display signal to drive a radar display unit to display the location and velocity of the target object.

Abstract: The positions of moving targets in the azimuthal direction which result from the SAR processing are falsified by components of the vehicle movement in the Doppler spectrum of the received signal, so that without the implementation of additional signal processing, moving targets are imaged in the SAR image at a false azimuth position. A method of repositioning moving targets in SAR images which consist of multi-channel range/Doppler measurement data X with NND Doppler resolution cells, defines on the basis of the filtering coefficients of the STAP transformed into the frequency domain, a family of NDZ pattern functions M, and determines testing functions T assigned to the measurement data. The true azimuth position of a moving target is then computed on the basis of the position of the maximum of the correlation between the testing functions and the pattern functions.

Abstract: A radar system includes a null processor coupled to transmit receive modules. The null processor inserts nulls in the sum pattern at locations for suppressing a jamming source. The null processor determines the difference pattern based upon the product: sum*sin(x), where sum is the sum pattern and x is the azimuth angle.

Abstract: For optimizing the computing expenditures when using STAP filters in real-time systems, the determination of the filter coefficients and the filtering of radar source data of the distance Doppler matrices {right arrow over (X)}left and {right arrow over (X)}right of two adjacent reception channels are carried out in the frequency domain. On the basis of {right arrow over (X)}left and {right arrow over (X)}right, a distance Doppler matrix {right arrow over (Y)}clutterfree is created, at which the echoes of fixed targets are suppressed and the echoes of moving targets a coherently intensified.

Abstract: This invention features an improved technique for search and track surveillance. In this invention, distinct and random (in both space and time) signal beams are simultaneous transmitted from an array of transmitter source elements in a manner to cover all sectors about a source location. In addition, countermeasures against a system according to the invention are difficult because the signal waveforms for each beam are distinct and random, making prediction of any signal waveform for any beam very unlikely. An array of receiver sensor elements is provided to receive signals that are scattered from remote objects and may or may not be co-located with and share the elements of the source array element. The scattered signals are received and processed to yield the direction and range of the remote objects.

Abstract: The direct path of a radio signal from transmitter to receiver is frequently interfered with by reflections of the signal from stationary and moving objects. This is called multipath noise. This invention utilizes a new adaptive filter technique to reduce multipath noise. A nonlinear least squares method measures the delay, Doppler shift and amplitude of the multipath due to each object and subtracts a very accurate reconstruction of each multipath signal from the noisy signal. If an object is a target, its range, range rate and magnitude is got from the measured multipath delay, Doppler shift and amplitude. Position and velocity of the target can be obtained by geometric triangulation with multiple transmitters. Target angle can be measured by the relative phase of the corresponding filter coefficients across multiple antennas. The system can be used on a surveillance aircraft to cancel ground reflections and measure targets.

Abstract: A method for the detection of a target by a radar in the presence of noise, the detection being performed on M antenna rotations, comprises at least: a first step for the estimation of the Doppler frequency ({circumflex over (f)}) of the target; a detection step, the target being detected if an associated variable Z is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold S, the variable Z being defined according to the following relationship: Z = MAX t ∈ D t , f ∈ D f ⁢ ( ∑

Abstract: In a radar system it is necessary to distinguish signals reflected from wanted targets such as aircraft from those reflected from fixed terrain features, known as clutter. The clutter signals can in some cases be significantly stronger than the wanted signals. One method for dealing with land clutter is the use of a high resolution clutter map. The area around the radar is considered to be divided into cells, and an array of background signal estimates is maintained for these cells. Whenever a signal is received by the radar, it is compared with the stored background level for the cell it occupies, and a detection is only reported if the signal exceeds the background by a pre-set threshold. Received signals are also used to modify the stored background levels so that the clutter map adapts to the reflections from clutter which are present over long periods. Clutter maps have so far only been used successfully for radars at fixed locations.

Abstract: The system and method for calibrating a signal detection threshold circuit is used in a radio frequency (RF) receiver, such as a in an early warning radar (EWR) system, in which a signal detection threshold circuit rejects signals below a predetermined threshold setting and prevents noise signals from causing false alarms. The system and method include setting an initial threshold setting and receiving noise signals in one or more channels. A threshold comparison circuit rejects noise signals below the threshold setting, and a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) detection circuit detects noise pulses above the threshold setting and determines the PRF. An automatic threshold determiner and setter determines whether the PRF has reached a predetermined frequency (e.g., 400 kHz) and lowers the threshold setting until the predetermined frequency is reached. When the predetermined frequency is reached the threshold setting is stored as a noise measurement.

Abstract: A system for instrumenting time sampled predicting interference suppression, particularly in a side-lobe canceller system. Main and auxiliary channel signals are supplied to a canceller loop where correlating weights are sampled just prior to a radar pulse transmission on command of a radar pretrigger pulse. A sampling circuit stores both current and past weights and combines the current weight with the integral of the difference between the current and past weight to form predicting weights over each pulse repetition period. The predicting weights are used to form a translating signal for operating on the auxiliary channel interference signal so that it will cancel the interference in the main channel. By sampling just prior to radar pulse transmission and forming the predicting weights, cross modulation of clutter and antenna scan error can be reduced in order that a side-lobe canceller may be used compatibly with Moving Target Indicators.

Abstract: A radar system (10) which transmits a random noise signal. The transmitted signal is embodied as an electromagnetic signal and is directed at an object or target. The object or target reflects at least a portion of the electromagnetic signal which is returned to the radar system. An image of the electromagnetic random noise signal is stored in memory (16) and compared with the returned modulated signal. Based on the correlation value, a determination is made regarding the object or target. In a particular implementation, the radar system is used in a target detection device (TDD) (10) in order to determine the distance from the target or object to the device and the relative velocity of the target or object and the device. When the target or object reaches a predetermined distance and also satisfies any other system requirements, the TDD (10) initiates a detonation signal which causes detonation of the missile or warhead.

Abstract: The present invention is in general related to tracking of multiple targets by means of measurements by various sensors. In particular the invention provides procedures for track initiation during multiple target tracking by means of measurements from passive sensors. The invention defines a quality measure for each tentative new target, by which the tentative targets are sorted and selected. The calculation of the parameters of possible targets and their covariance are preferably performed in a recursive manner. The track initiation comprises the steps of creating strobe tracks, calculating strobe track crosses, selecting a strobe track cross as a probable target and creating a target track.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing radar system performance is provided that is independent of any specific radar application. In one embodiment, an optimization system (110) includes an optimization engine (112) and various input modules including constraint module (114), a variable module (116) and an objectives module (118). The input modules provide information sufficient to define an optimization application under analysis. Based on these inputs, the optimization engine (112) identifies an appropriate optimization model and determines optimal radar system parameter values. In this manner, the optimization engine (112) need not be preprogrammed with knowledge of the application under consideration, and is applicable in a variety of context involving different radar system types.