A Discrete Side-lobe Clutter Recognition Method Using Space-time Steering Vectors for Space Based Radar System

On account of the large coverage of space based radar, a lot of discrete strong side-lobe clutter, which shares familiar Doppler feature with the real moving targets, can be received by the radar system and hence results in false alarms. For this problem, a discrete side-lobe clutter recognition method using space-time steering vectors for space based radar system is proposed. In this method, the "Suspected targets" , including both the real moving targets and discrete side-lobe clutter, are detected after suppressing clutter by employing the Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP). The range-Doppler cells where "suspected targets" located in or around are selected. Afterwards, the space time steering vectors of them are obtained based on the coupling relationship between Doppler frequencies and space angles of clutter. Lastly, the above range-Doppler cells are processed again by the adaptive processing filters which are derived from the new space-time steering vectors. Obviously, the signal-clutter-noise ratio of real moving target will be reduced significantly, while it will not change much for the discrete side-lobe clutter. Therefore, the discrete side-lobe clutter can be identified by using the proposed method. Theoretical analyses and multi-channel airborne radar experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and stability of this method.