Array deformation performance impacts on a LEO L-band GMTI SBR

Author

Zulch, P. ; Hancock, R. ; McKay, J.

Author_Institution

Air Force Res. Lab., Rome, NY

fYear

2005

fDate

5-12 March 2005

Firstpage

2171

Lastpage

2179

Abstract

Space based radar (SBR) has been investigated for decades and has once again made an appearance as a viable method for performing the moving target indication (MTI) mission. Large arrays are needed for this application in order to provide adequate energy on target for detection and to minimize the observed ground clutter Doppler spread. Large phased arrays in space are likely to experience mechanical deformation both at the sub-array panel level and across the structure as a whole. The impact of antenna deformations on antenna pattern, peak directive gain, and signal to interference plus noise ratio loss (SINRL), which shows impact on minimum discernable velocity (MDV), is demonstrated. This paper address the deformations when applied to a low earth orbit (LEO) based L-band radar concept of interest to the US Air Force (USAF) and NASA

Keywords

antenna arrays; antenna radiation patterns; array signal processing; deformation; radar antennas; radar clutter; spaceborne radar; L-band GMTI SBR; L-band radar; LEO SBR; antenna deformations; array deformation performance impacts; ground clutter Doppler spread; low earth orbit radar; mechanical deformation; moving target indication; space based radar; Clutter; Directive antennas; Interference; L-band; Low earth orbit satellites; PSNR; Phased arrays; Radar antennas; Radar detection; Spaceborne radar;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace Conference, 2005 IEEE

Conference_Location

Big Sky, MT

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8870-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AERO.2005.1559509

Filename

1559509