Comparison of space-time processing approaches using experimental airborne radar data

In order to explore the performance improvement potential of applying adaptive array technology to airborne radar systems, the Naval Research Laboratory produced a database which enables the development/evaluation of adaptive algorithms requiring both spatial and temporal degrees of freedom. A summary of analyses utilizing this database is presented. A set of algorithms to be evaluated is described. It includes three realizations of the adaptive linear combiner: the joint-domain optimum algorithm, a cascaded space-time algorithm and a cascaded time-space algorithm. The interference to be cancelled by showing clutter profiles and eigenspectra is characterized. Examples are presented of comparative algorithm performance illustrating the major improvement in interference suppression these algorithms achieve.