High range resolution radar system

Abstract

A radar system is provided to track radar energy reflected by a point on the target different from the centroid of a target's radar reflected energy. The radar system includes a target angle/range tracking system and a target energy monitoring/range tracking system. During a first mode of operation, the target angle/range tracking system tracks the centroid of the target's reflected energy; and, the target energy monitoring/range tracking system monitors the strength of energy reflected from points, or regions along the body of the target different from the centroid reflected energy producing region. When the signal strength to noise ratio (i.e., S/N ratio) from a reflection at one of the monitored points along the target exceeds a predetermined level indicating detection of a secondary reflector along the body of the target, a second operation mode commences. During the second operating mode, the target angle/range tracking system tracks the energy from the secondary reflector and the target energy monitoring/range tracking system monitors energy reflected from points along the target's body different from the secondary reflector.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.