Space Based Radar (SBR) Space Time Adaptive Processing (STAP)

When compared to airborne GMTI radar, space-based radar provides: (1) deep coverage into areas typically denied airborne assets; (2) greater ease and flexibility for re-tasking the sensor to new areas; (3) greater area coverage rates; and (4) a steep look-down capability which minimizes terrain masking. A MEO constellation for GMTI surveillance results in fewer satellites, lower platform velocity, narrower clutter spectrum and improved target MDV. For the longer MEO slant range, the target area is visible much longer with less target handover between adjacent satellites. TSC's Phase II program will design an optimized MEO GMTI SBR system, employing innovative waveforms and STAP techniques to achieve enhanced GMTI detection and area coverage rates, while minimizing the effects of the earth rotation-induced range/Doppler clutter ambiguities. The MEO SBR will be characterized by a large, deployable AESA or reflector antenna system, selected after realistic size, weight, power and complexity tradeoffs, and a high-throughput state-of-the art on-board signal processor. At the end of Phase II, an integrated SBR GMTI analysis and simulation tool incorporating antenna, orbit, waveform and STAP modeling components will be available to Government and commercial users to perform detailed medium- and low-earth orbit space-based radar system tradeoffs.