Horizontal displacement and tilt angle compensation for large sea floating sparse linear array for surface wave radar

Phase center of sea-floating antenna is shifted in horizontal plane by longitudinal and transversal displacement as well as by tilt from vertical orientation. If the actual positions of elementary phase centers of floating sparse array are known or signals from ships of opportunity are used, a dynamic adaptive algorithm for a look angle dependant compensation of phase and amplitude errors of each virtual antenna element can be used for array pattern correction. Simulation results show that practical values of horizontal displacements in the order of up to one half of a radar wavelength can easily be compensated in real time. Mainlobe broadening is resolved almost perfectly and sidelobe level is decreased significantly.