M. L. Artemov - D.Sc. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Deputy Director, Representative Office of JSC «Concern «Sozvezdie»; Head of «EW and Special Communication» STC (Voronezh). E-mail: artemov@sozvezdie.su
M. P. Slichenko - Ph.D. (Phys.-Math.), Senior Research Scientist, JSC «Concern «Sozvezdie» (Voronezh). E-mail: asp2010@mail.ru

Maximum likelihood algorithm of detection, direction finding and estimation of amplitudes of plane monochromatic radio waves is synthesized for multichannel radio direction finder with arbitrary configuration of antenna system. The algorithm is efficient in aprioristic uncertainty conditions of a relative intensity of an additive Gaussian noise. As a result of the solution of a likelihood equation, the maximum likelihood estimation of noise level is gained. The structure of solving rule of algorithm of joint detection and direction finding is obtained. It is shown that the estimation of directions of arrival of radio waves is the argument of a global maximum of a normalized direction finding relief. The decision statistics of adaptive detection is the relation of magnitude of that found global maximum of the relief to the magnitude of a trace from accumulated series of measurements of a matrix of mutual energies at ports of array antenna elements. The decision on presence or absence of plane waves is made basing on threshold comparison of value of decision statistics of detection. In case of presence of plane waves, the final estimation of amplitudes of radio waves is computed by averaging of estimations, which were obtained in each measurement. The threshold of detection is invariant to unknown intensity of an additive Gaussian noise and provides fixed probability of false alarm. Synthesized maximum likelihood algorithm of detection, direction finding and estimation of amplitudes of plane monochromatic radio waves is the generalization of DML algorithm of super-resolution for the case of arbitrary configuration of antenna system of radio direction finder in presence of aprioristic uncertainty of relative intensity of additive Gaussian noise.