V.P. Likhachev1, R.A. Pigalitsyn2

1,2 MESC AF «N.E. Zhukovsky and Y.A. Gagarin Air Force Academy» (Voronezh, Russia)

1 lvp_home@mail.ru; 2 an124ruslan_zov@mail.ru

This paper addresses the issues of radar measurement of radial velocity and acceleration of objects using a continuous-wave linear frequency modulated (LFM) radar. The authors propose a two-stage algorithm for phase-difference processing of the beat signal at the output of a homodyne receiver. At the first stage of processing, in "fast time", a signal is generated whose frequency linearly depends on the sweep period number. The second stage of processing, in "slow time", extracts a frequency directly proportional to target acceleration. After compensating for the estimated acceleration, an accurate estimate of the radial velocity is obtained.

The results of a field experiment using an X-band radar device and a metal sphere dropped from a height of approximately 400 m are presented. Statistical error characteristics calculated from the experimental data are provided. It is shown that increasing the coherent integration time from 0.4 s to 0.8 s reduces the root-mean-square error of velocity estimation by a factor of 1.5, and that of acceleration estimation by a factor of 1.66. A computational complexity analysis is performed, demonstrating that the proposed algorithm is significantly more economical than the maximum likelihood method, making it suitable for real-time implementation. The algorithm is recommended for use in radar systems intended for detecting and tracking objects with high velocity and maneuverability characteristics.

Likhachev V. P., Pigalitsyn R.A. Estimation of velocity and acceleration of a maneuvering target in a wideband CW LFM radar // Radiotekhnika. 2026. V. 90. № 8. P. 58−68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j00338486-202608-06

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