US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

J Michael Madewell

George R Edlin

Randy D Buff

W Welman Gebhart

A method for discriminating and tracking a target in a clutter cloud includes transmitting a radar signal at a signal bandwidth to: identify a range extent of a clutter cloud; determine a centroid and a velocity growth rate of the clutter cloud; and identify a direction of movement of the centroid of the clutter cloud. The method may also include locking a another radar signal having a greater signal bandwidth onto the centroid of the clutter cloud whereby the centroid is tracked within one radar range resolution bin; providing a delay line that includes at least two Doppler filters and is configured to cover a Doppler frequency range corresponding to a velocity growth rate of the clutter cloud; and processing a reflected radar signal corresponding to the greater signal bandwidth. The processing of the reflected radar signal may comprise passing the reflected radar signal through the delay line to mitigate a portion of the reflected signal that is reflected by the clutter cloud. A system and apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Method and device for the detection and track of targets in high clutter

The disclosed innovative, interceptor seeker discriminator system has the capability to home in on targets containing nuclear materials by detecting the gamma fissions. The gamma signatures can be obtained from activating the nuclear material by a Neutral Particle Beam Weapon, or by detecting the natural fission emissions of the warhead. This system is innovative, in that the following properties are identified: 1) This system uses interactive discrimination techniques, which allows the gamma seeker to accurately home in on a true RV by comparing the return gamma emissions of objects. In this manner, the gamma seeker discriminator is expected to obtain substantially better discrimination K factor performance, when compared to using only IR techniques. 2) This system uses an interceptor/seeker to perform interactive discrimination and gamma sensors in conjunction with infrared sensors on the same interceptor platform (i.e., sensor fusion). A significant enhancement in interceptor performance is expected-by incorporating these methods. 3) This system is ideal for applications involving point defense for Conus Global Positioning Against Limited Strikes (GPALS) threat scenarios, and Nuclear Theater Missile Defense (TMD) threats.

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Madison, AL, United States of America

J Michael Madewell