Distributed passive radar sensor networks with near-space vehicle-borne receivers

In this study, we propose a distributed passive radar sensor network with near-space vehicle-borne receivers for regional remote sensing surveillance. Note that near-space is referred to the altitude range between 20 and 100 km is too high for airplanes, but too low for satellites. Near-space vehicles can offer a wide coverage like satellite and a fast maneuverability like airplane. The distributed passive radar sensor networks system operation mode, imaging coverage and imaging resolution are analysed. As there is a big speed difference between the transmit and receive platforms, we propose a multi-beamforming and scan-on-receive combined approach to extend the limited imaging coverage. Since the conventional motion compensation technique may be not reachable for the system due to its limited load capability, an overlapped subaperture-based motion compensation algorithm is proposed. The effectiveness of the approaches is validated by numerical simulation results.