Ground moving target indicating radar

摘要

An airborne moving target indicating (MTI) radar includes an array antenna. A receive processor electronically multiplies the signals received by each antenna element by element enable/disable signals which vary from time to time, thus electronically moving the effective phase center of the antenna array. The motion of the phase center is matched to the moving vehicle speed and direction.

主权项

1. A method for detecting the presence of a moving surface target, said method comprising the steps of:
at first and second times, transmitting pulses of a radar beam from an array antenna of an airborne vehicle toward a region containing said targets; generating first and second received signals from reflections received at said array antenna; defining a plurality of simultaneous first receive beams from said first received signals, the first receive beams covering said region and originating from a first phase center of said array; defining a plurality of simultaneous second receive beams from said second received signals, the second receive beams covering said region and originating from a second phase center of said array different from said first phase center, said first and second phase centers being spaced apart and electronically switched such that, during the time interval between said first and second pulses, the effective movement of said phase center equals the movement of said vehicle.