An optimum space-time MTI processor for airborne radar

This paper presents an optimum space-time moving target indication (MTI) processor for the airborne radar. The optimization is based on a stochastic target model, rather than deterministic target models adopted in most space-time MTI processor designs. The optimum solution that maximizes the improvement factor yielded by the processor is shown to be the generalized eigenvector corresponding to the smallest generalized eigenvalue of the signal and clutter covariance matrices. A suboptimal, but computationally simpler solution to this problem is also derived. This approach requires the solution of a linearly constrained minimum variance (LCMV) problem. Unlike typical LCMV problems, our solution also calculates the response vector specifying the frequency response along the look direction. Experimental results demonstrating the usefulness of our methods are included in the paper. The results indicate that the suboptimal solution does not suffer from significant performance loss