DBF of Multiple Simultaneous Beams for Improved Target Search and Angle Estimation Performance of Radar System

This paper describes techniques for improving radar target search and angle estimation performance over the coventional monopulse processing in the elimination of beam-shape loss. Specifically, we have developed a scheme that uses multiple sets of monopulse beams. We also show how monopulse processing scheme and the maximum-likelihood scheme can be combined to balance the performance and processing requirement. These techniques make use of digital beamforming of multiple simultaneous received beams and processing using multiple algorithms. Simulation results are included to show the improvement in target search and angle estimation and the elimination of beam-shape loss.