Investigation of Target Tracking Errors in Monopulse Radars

摘要

The report discusses investigations of tracking errors associated with a particular monopulse phased-array radar system, called the Experimental Array Radar (EAR). The free-space performance of the EAR is first analyzed and degradations of performance due to particular target Doppler shifts and multipath returns are noted. A computer analysis of the tracking performance of the EAR is then presented, and it is noted that there are significant tracking errors due to multipath returns for targets at altitudes less than 1200 feet. An analysis of the effectiveness of frequency-agile operation in reducing the effects of these multipath returns is presented, and shows that the available frequency-agility bandwidth of a modified EAR would significantly reduce multipath-induced tracking errors, particularly for higher antenna and target locations. Improved MTI filters which provide more nearly uniform responses for a wide range of Doppler frequencies are then discussed and a number of representative improved filter responses presented. (Author)