System Analysis and RF-Floodlight Exploitation of Short-Range GOTCHA Repeaters

by Montes de Oca, Jose A.

Emerging wide-area synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system concepts call for a single data collection platform to orbit a large ( e.g., 20-km) spot at a nominal range of 40-km. The large standoff distance and desire for fine resolution, coupled with a need for persistent real-time sensing, pose a significant challenge in terms of clutter-to-noise ratio (CNR) performance and data processing. Increased CNR and reduced processing load can be achieved by decreasing the range of the SAR system and the size of the area of interest. Employing multiple cooperating SAR systems allows the same overall coverage area to be maintained with a patchwork of SAR footprints. This paper analyzes a high-level system architecture, for multiple SAR systems, that provides uninterrupted coverage over a wide area. Bistatic receivers are also considered to collect through-wall signals and indirect path signals. Three different wall constructions are considered for the through-wall study. Three different exterior wall covering are used in the multi-path study. System analysis includes eclipsing diagrams, CNR performance, mutual interference issues, through-wall, and multi-path modeling.