Fast versus slow scan radar operation for coherent small target detection in sea clutter

Small maritime surface targets can be difficult to distinguish from sea clutter in radar backscattered signals, but discrimination may be improved by using coherent detectors within the dwell time of a scanning radar. Non-coherent integration, coherent integration, the Kelly detector and the adaptive linear quadratic detector are considered. Target detectability may also be improved by combining the results of a single dwell across multiple scans. Overall target detection times of 2, 5 and 10 s are considered and the trade-off between within-scan dwell time and multiple scan processing gain is investigated. Analysis of high-range-resolution coherent X-band data of small boats reveals that faster scan rates with corresponding shorter dwell times provide improved target detection performance over slower scan rates and longer dwell times.