On the accuracy of target DOA estimation under varying interference conditions with PAMIR

Abstract

This paper analyses the target direction of arrival (DOA) estimation accuracy that can be obtained by the three channel experimental system developed at FHR (PAMIR) under jamming conditions. The analysis is performed for exo- and endo-clutter targets. For the exo-clutter case, the feasibility of target detection and DOA estimation is shown with an experimental PAMIR dataset acquired during a test campaign in 2008. Maximum permissible jamming power values are identified for the DOA estimation in the endo-clutter case. This is of particular interest since - due to unintentional jamming - the environment cannot be assumed to completed void of jamming even in civilian applications. To this end, an exhaustive analysis of the maximum theoretical target DOA estimation accuracy is conducted by evaluating the Cramer-Rao bounds (CRBs) for different jammer and target configurations. The DOA estimation performance of a generalized monopulse is also analyzed to investigate the deviation from the CRB experienced by a real estimator.