The reduced rank multistage Wiener filter for circular array STAP

This paper examines the multistage Wiener filter (MWF) for circular array space-time adaptive processing. STAP has traditionally been applied to uniform linear arrays for airborne radar applications. However, there has also been recent interest in electronically scanned circular arrays because they offer 360-degree azimuth coverage with flexible dwell management and mechanical simplicity. Circular arrays, however, give rise to an increase in clutter rank and a greater degree of statistical nonstationarity with range relative to uniform linear arrays. Both of these issues complicate STAP processing. The MWF provides relief for both of these issues. It provides significant rank reduction as well as a sample support reduction relative to full rank techniques. In this paper we illustrate these advantages and also provide comparisons to the better known principal components rank reduction technique.