Radar Systems Analysis and Design Using MATLAB, 3rd Edition

Chapter 13

Detection of Fluctuating Targets

13.1. Introduction

In the previous chapter target detection was introduced in the context of single pulse detection with completely known (i.e., deterministic) amplitude and phase in one case, and known amplitude with random phase in another. The underlying assumption was that radar targets were made of non-varying (non-fluctuating) scatterers. However, in practice that it is rarely the case. First, one would expect the radar to receive multiple returns (pulses) from any given target in its field of view. Furthermore, real-world targets will fluctuate over the duration of a single pulse or from pulse to pulse. This chapter extends the analysis of Chapter 12 to account for target fluctuation as well ...