Performance of low-rank STAP detectors

In this paper the STAP detector based on the low-rank approximation of the normalized adaptive matched filter (LRNAMF) is investigated for its false alarm probability (FAP) performance. An exact formula for the FAP of the LRNAMF detector is derived using the g-method estimator [4]. The non-CFAR behavior of this detector is shown via simulations using different models for the clutter-plus-noise covariance matrix. The detection probability is also evaluated, and the LRNAMF detector exhibits robustness in the presence of inhomogeneities consisting of interferers in the training data, for both non-fluctuating as well as fluctuating target models.