Range/Angle Radar Imaging for Non-Cooperative Combat Identification

Only radar has the potential to identify non-cooperative ground vehicles, day and night in all weather conditions (including dust), and automatically from a significant standoff range. However, previous attempts at radar target identification have not provided the needed performance. Approaches based on range profiles are too sensitive to target orientation and configuration, and approaches based on range/Doppler imaging require too long a dwell on each target. MARK Resources proposes an alternative based on range/azimuth imaging. Ground-to-ground identification is possible with small closely spaced antennas via “cell splitting” in azimuth, which can be achieved to the needed accuracy with our new radar resolution theory and image processing technology. We propose to develop processing algorithms that measure range/azimuth positions of scatterers on a moving or stationary ground vehicle and identify the vehicle from the measurements, as well as to perform a functional design of a practical radar that can collect the required data.