Space–time interference analysis and suppression for airborne passive radar using transmissions of opportunity

Abstract

This study presents the space–time snapshot models for the interfering passive signals received by the airborne passive radar which uses a ground-based stationary non-cooperative transmitter. The random range sidelobes couplings of the direct path and of the strong clutter signals into further range cells are major concerns in moving target detection performance. The least squares-based adaptive interference cancellation technique is proposed to efficiently suppress the direct path, strong clutter and Doppler-shifted strong clutter signals present at each antenna element prior to matched filter processing. In mitigating the interfering signals, their corresponding random range sidelobes will also be suppressed by the same amount. Ground-based moving passive radar trials were conducted to validate and ascertain the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive interference cancellation algorithm.