Radar Detection and Tracking of Small Maritime Targets at High Grazing Angles

Development of high-grazing-angle radar signal processing techniques that employ a long integration time approach with a pulse agile beam that can be used to reliably detect, identify and discriminate maritime targets. Furthermore, we propose to conduct a proof-of-concept study that demonstrates the feasibility of using radar data coupled with advanced image analysis to detect moving submerged submarines. HMC has developed data processing technologies inherently aimed at facing low quality image challenges. The advanced image analysis method we propose is a customized pattern recognition technique using innovative algorithms and software-based logic. Our advanced approach identifies minute effects that submerged submarines generate on the sea-surface above. This proof-of-concept study will be completed within six months of contract award. Through this effort, HMC offers a new, non-acoustic radio frequency (RF) submarine tracking capability and a high-value operational system to enhance the Navy¡¦s antisubmarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. Additional technologies examined in this proposed project will include advanced image processing of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and exploitation, automatic target recognition (ATR) and classification. Our proposed effort supports a number of the top-level Naval Research Areas of Interest as non-acoustic ASW sensors and systems, rapid precision ASW targeting technologies and techniques and others