Joint cold clutter and terrain scattered interference mitigation using four-channel monopulse beams flight test data

Abstract

Under the U.S. Air Force Wright Labs (WL/AAMR) adaptive radar architecture contract, Hughes performed terrain scattered interference (TSI) experiments using the Hughes A-3 data collection system. This data collection system is a fighter like x-band radar with front mounted four port antenna and four receiver channels. The flights were conducted in April 1996 against an ALQ-167 airborne jammer over the open ocean near the California coast and over the desert area near Edwards Air Force Base. Joint clutter and TSI mitigation techniques were tested using the collected four port monopulse x-band TSI data. Verifying past simulation predictions, results show that the four channel monopulse beamforming system yields sufficient performance for tactical utility.