Analysis of target-matched-filter diversity over extended dwells for the detection of dismounts

Future advanced radar systems must detect targets of diminishing radar cross section (RCS) at low radial velocity, including the detection of dismounts. Presently, a deficiency in radar detection performance exists between the capabilities of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for fixed target indication and space-time adaptive processing (STAP) for ground moving target indication (GMTI) of vehicles with low ground track velocity. In this paper, we develop a model for STAP processing over extended dwells and apply this model to analyze the inherent diversity of targets with varying velocities and accelerations. This diversity shows potential for new matched filtering techniques leading to better slow-moving, low-RCS target detection.