GROUND CLUTTER MODEL FOR AIRBORNE MPRF RADARS IN LOOK-DOWN SEARCH MODE

The performances of a medium pulse repetition frequency (MPRF) radar o perating in air-to-air look-down mode are strongly influenced by the p resence of ground clutter. The clutter echo received both on the anten na main beam and side lobes can increase the number of false alarms. T o correctly account for the effects of ground clutter, one has to deve lop a model capable of reproducing clutter characteristics as a functi on of range and frequency. The authors propose a model to estimate ran ge/Doppler distribution of ground clutter mean power. The proposed dis crete model permits development of simulation packages quantify the ef fects of ground clutter in MPRF systems and which allow the evaluation of MPRF radars performances in most typical operating conditions. Thr ee-dimensional plots of the range/Doppler distribution of mean ground clutter power, obtained by a FORTRAN code that implements the model, a re presented. Moreover, the dependence of ground clutter power on impo rtant mission and radar parameters is discussed.