An improving algorithm for maneuvering target altitude estimation with Skywave Over-The-Horizon Radar

To solve the problem of the descending of altitude measurement accuracy caused by the maneuvering target, an improving altitude estimation algorithm of Maneuvering Target Matched Field Processing (MTMFP) is proposed. The method forms the signal propagation model based on micro-multipath combined with the electronic density distribution of the ionosphere. A complex range-Doppler signal model with target maneuver parameters (i.e. target altitude varying rate, radial acceleration and turn, angular rate) is constructed then. Finally, the performance of the MTMFP algorithm is analyzed. Simulation results show that, the method could realize the altitude estimation of maneuvering target. The error of the altitude estimation is around 500m within 10 dwells data.