Track initiation schemes based on measured position and radial speed

Many types of radar must detect objects with a modest radar cross-section at a large distance. As a consequence such radars have a similar detection performance on short distances for very small objects. For instance, when an object of 1 m2 radar cross section must be detected at a distance of 100km, an object with a sensititvity causes that natural objects like (flocks of) birds, convective pockets of air will be detected and clutter the operator display. The paper discusses track initation schemes bases on radar with facilities like Sensitivity Time Control and Moving Target Indication. It is shown that the false track rate can be managed, however that the system is not robust in this respect. An alternative where the radical component of the object's speed is used to size the track initiation correlation gate is more robust, but requires a totally different design of the waveform and the signal processing.