method and apparatus for filtering a signal stap radar echo

摘要

There is described a STAP filtering method (100) of an echo-radar signal produced by a target by reflection of a transmitted radar signal comprising a sequence of pulses, identical to a transmitted pulse, defining a coherent processing interval (CPI), the method (100) comprising the steps of: - receiving (101) the echo radar signal by means of an array of antennas (A1, AN) to provide a plurality of electric signals each associated to a respective antenna of the array of antennas (A1, AN); performing a conversion (102) at intermediate frequency or in baseband of said electric signals and performing a subsequent analog to-digital conversion, obtaining a plurality of digital signals each associated with a respective antenna of the array of antennas (A1,... AN); - performing (103) a filtering matched to the transmitted pulse of said digital signals to obtain filtered digital signals; - calculating (104) weight coefficients for the STAP filtering starting from said plurality of filtered digital signals.The step (104) of calculating the weight coefficients allows a significant reduction of the sample support required in order to obtain an acceptable performance compared to an STAP optimum processor.