Dynamic programming algorithm for the detection of air dim target

“Track-before-detection” (TBD) is well suitable for radar detection of dim targets because it takes advantage of the gains of time integration. Dynamic programming algorithm (DPA) is one of the traditional TBD techniques, and has been applied to sea dim target detection. In this paper, the expression of DPA applied to air dim target detection is given firstly. Important differences between air dim target and sea dim target is introduced in the application of DPA. In the end, numerical simulations show that air dim target detection based on DPA is limited in radar performance enhancement.