System optimization techniques for radar surveillance from space

The relationships between the probability of detection for a single detection trial and the output probability of detection are reviewed for the detection schemes considered. A description is given of computer analysis and simulation routines that have been used to maximize the area surveillance rate by evaluating several detection schemes and by finding an optimal set of values of the number of noncoherent integration periods, the signal-to-noise ratio, and coherent integration time that minimizes the dwell time and maximizes the area surveillance rate and the waveform efficiency of the system. It is shown how the simulation can be used to keep the false-alarm time nearly constant throughout the access area. Several plots of data show that area rates can be increased by up to 51% using these techniques. It is found that the coverage rate is very sensitive to the number of incoherent integration periods and the coherent integration time but rather insensitive to the false-alarm number used.<>