Clutter-knowledge-based target tracking method in complex conditions

High Frequency Ground Wave Radar (HFGWR) target tracking is a challenging task because of dense false alarms and missed/disturbed measurements caused by strong sea clutter. A clutter-knowledge-based tracking method is presented to cope with multi-target tracking in this kind of complex environment. Modified initiation methods based on characteristic analysis of multiscan association results are proposed to suppress false tracks. Then, the available sea clutter knowledge is exploited to filter tracks and special treatments with algorithm adjustments are executed to preserve tracks may be affected by the first order sea clutter. Simulated and real data are both processed to demonstrate that the presented method can greatly improve the formation and maintenance performance with a little increase of false tracks.