FFT Signal processing for non-coherent radar systems

Coherent and non-coherent radar detection of moving targets is analyzed and expressions relating the post-video-detection moving target signal-to-noise ratio to the pre-video-detection moving target signal-to-noise and clutter-to-noise ratios are obtained for non-coherent detection. The effect of processing this resulting real (non-coherent) signal with an FFT processor is then analyzed and compared to the FFT processing of a complex (coherent) signal. Results show that as the number of pulses processed becomes large, and under favorable clutter conditions, FFT signal processing of the non-coherent signals approaches 3 dB of the integration gain realized with a coherent, matched-filter receiver.