System for tracking radar targets in background clutter

摘要

A radar tracking system (100) adapted for use with existing radar tracking systems includes a radar target detection system (106,108) for detecting radar targets in clutter using magnitude and angular position information obtained from return signals. A tracking algorithm (104) is used to track and update the positions of said targets with respect to the position of the radar system. The tracking algorithm includes a true target angle estimator (110) for maintaining accurate target angle information when the target is clutter and when the target is out of clutter. The tracking algorithm maintains accurate target distance information when the target is in clutter and when the target is out of clutter. In a specific embodiment, accurate distance information is maintained in a track file (122) where the amplitudes of return signals are stored once a target is detected by the detection system (100).