Multistatic SAR algorithm with image combination

This paper presents a flexible spotlight synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image formation algorithm that can be applied to multistatic configurations allowing the formation and combination of images from multiple passive receivers. Multiple receivers collecting radar returns at different angles can provide better detection against reduced radar cross section (RCS) objects and objects able to spread energy in many directions. A specialized time-frequency algorithm with selective matched filtering was developed for the monostatic case and extended to multiple passive receiver (multistatic) scenarios. The algorithm meets stringent geometric fidelity requirements necessary for combining images from multiple platforms imaging the scene and is shown to produce good results for both side-looking (broadside) and forward-looking (squinted) spotlight geometries. Simulations were used to test and validate the algorithms against both point reflectors and a simulated realistic scene for varying platform geometry/trajectory combinations.