Imaging Method for Array Structured Bistatic Ground-to-Air Radar

This paper presents a ground-to-air bistatic radar system and its implementation algorithm, which resembles an SAR(synthetic aperture radar) reconstruction algorithm. Via cooperative working between a standoff transmitting radar and an array of ground based receiving radars, it detects and images moving targets under clutter in the air. In the proposed system, the whole receiving antenna aperture is synthesized by physical ground based radars, and thus, unlike conventional SAR, it does not require long illumination time of the target area. The reconstruction algorithm uses planewave approximation based polar format processing, which alleviates the requirement of positioning the receiving radars, which can cause grating lobes if not chosen properly. We derive a reconstruction algorithm including clutter suppression and discuss implementation issues, such as the resolution of a reconstructed image and the method of compensation for the irregularity of the receiving radars’ positions. A simulation that validates the proposed algorithm is also shown.