Research Progress and Development Trend of the Multi-Illuminator-based Passive Radar

Abstract

Given the functions and performance advantages of passive radar, this paper first reviews the research history of passive radar for more than 80 years and then examines the research progress of related key technologies, including reference signal reconstruction, multipath clutter suppression, target detection, target tracking, and passive radar imaging. On this basis, the latest research results of typical experimental systems of passive radar abroad (particularly in European countries) are presented in terms of system structures, technical parameters, and performance indices. Then this paper focuses on the Multi-Illuminator-based PAssive Radar (MIPAR) series of Wuhan University in China. The target detection results of MIPAR in different frequency bands (HF/VHF/UHF/L) are given, that show the application potential of the MIPAR system in long-range early warning and close-range high-precision monitoring. Finally, the development trends of passive radar, including the integration of multiple illuminators, system network configuration, and intelligent signal processing, are discussed.

Keywords

• passive radar
• passive coherent localization
• multiple illuminators
• networked radar
• radar signal processing