Pulse-Doppler radar detection performance modelling and verification

The modelling of the detection performance of air-to-air pulse-Doppler radar is a complex subject. The extent of the calculations involved is quite large and generally involves a number of simplifying assumptions which inevitably raise doubts about the validity of the modelling. They describe a method of performance modelling and a method of validation of the model using data from an airborne radar trials programme. The authors concentrate on the Medium PRF (MPRF) mode which presents the greatest difficulty. This is because this type of mode not only involves a complex signal structure necessary to separate targets from clutter and to resolve range and Doppler ambiguities, but also because in most cases detection range is critically dependent on the levels of sidelobe clutter which compete with the target return. The accurate modelling of these clutter effects is difficult and is a prime source of error