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

There is a growing interest in augmenting airborne GMTI surveillance assets with a space-based radar (SBR) capability. SBR GMTI would provide: deep coverage into areas typically denied airborne assets; extended surveillance; increased area coverage rates;and a steep look-down capability for foliage penetration.A medium-earth orbit (MEO) constellation for GMTI detection and tracking offers lower platform velocity, which narrows the clutter spectrum and improves target detection and minimum discernible velocity. The longer slant range means that the target areais visible much longer per satellite, with less handover of targets between adjacent satellites. Fewer satellites are also required with longer lifetimes for MEO deployments.The TSC and SC team will investigate innovative concepts and techniques to perform SBR GMTI from MEO altitudes in Phase 1. Preliminary tradeoffs will be performed to optimize antenna aperture size and configuration, operating frequency, power-apertureproduct, waveform selection, and constellation properties. The SMS computer modeling and simulation tool will be enhanced to incorporate these GMTI concepts and techniques. Various GMTI STAP algorithms for SBR MEO application will be incorporated intothe SMS software for preliminary evaluation, and then refined in Phase 2. Processor throughput and memory requirements for the various STAP architectures will additionally be assessed. The advanced technology developed under this SBIR can be incorporated into future space-based radar (SBR) for both military and civilian uses. An SBR MEO GMTI capability can provide increased battlefield awareness, and allow warfighters to obtainreal-time information to support: rapid insertion of forces; theatre surveillance, command and control; covert search-and-rescue; special operations; intelligence collection; and counter-terrorist missions. It can also support the monitoring of trafficassociated with nuclear, biological and chemical weapons facilities, and movements of weapons of mass destruction. Civil applications include anti-smuggling, counter-narcotics, illegal fishing, illegal immigration, law enforcement, refugee sea patrol, andship traffic control.