L-band SBR moving target detection in SAR-GMTI modes

Space Based Radars (SBR) are being considered for a wide range of area surveillance tasks due to the global, all weather capability to image and detect moving targets. SBR has the capability of detecting either slow moving ground targets or high speed airborne targets, in addition to the familiar synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging mode. However, due to the high satellite velocity and long wavelength of an L-band SBR, detection of slow moving targets is very difficult. Two radar modes are being considered: Multiple-Channel Ground Moving Target Indication Space Time Adaptive Processing (GMTI STAP), and Along Track Interferometry (ATI) SAR. The system implications and mode requirements are reviewed for efficient wide area surveillance.