AN/MPS-39 MULTIPLE OBJECT TRACKING RADAR: MTI VARIANT

Abstract

The AN/MPS-39 Multiple Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) is a new precision instrumentation system designed to support range safety, weapon development, operational test and evaluation, and training exercises involving multiple participants. A coherent MTI (moving target indicator) variant, the subject of this paper, has been developed for MOTR using discretionary IR&D funds. A zero recurring cost “softwareonly” version of this MTI variant has been successfully tested. The architecture for a low-cost hardware adjunct designed to increase MTI detection range and simultaneously provide clutter-suppressed operator displays has also been developed. In this paper, a brief description of MOTR is given and its adaptability to three-pulse MTI is presented, along with expected performance results. The implementation of the MTI software only version is described in some detail and the results of tests are shown. The hardware adjunct is briefly described. Possible applications of this variant are cited and future directions MOTR coherent real-time processing can take are given.