A comparison of contemporary Space-Time Adaptive Processing techniques for GMTI

STAP (Space Time Adaptive Processing) has long been recognised as a means by which to detect moving targets against a background of thermal noise and clutter. Recent advances in signal processing have increased the number of STAP applications. Algorithms have been designed to mitigate the effects of heterogeneous clutter and crucially, for commercially viable radar systems, to use fewer spatial channels. This paper compares two such contemporary algorithms using both simulated data and data from the well known MCARM system. The Hybrid-MLED (Maximum Likelihood Estimation Detector) [3] and the modified Parametric GLRT (Generalised Likelihood Ratio Test) [12] are briefly described, a test strategy is outlined and results are presented. It is shown that both algorithms out-perform traditional detectors. The Hybrid detector is shown to offer increased robustness and allows for less complex false alarm management.