Monopulse system for target location

Abstract

A monopulse system generates sum (.SIGMA.), elevation difference (.DELTA..sub.EL), azimuth difference (.DELTA..sub.AZ), and double difference (.DELTA..sub..DELTA.) signals, and generates a covariance matrix. The covariance matrix is decomposed to produce at least the principal eigenvector. The location or angular direction within the main beam of a single target is determined from the real component of the quotient of elements of the principal eigenvector, by the use of a look-up table. In another embodiment of the invention, the eigenvalues are generated from the covariance matrix, and the number of significant eigenvalues determines the number of targets within the main beam. If a single target is found, its location is found as described above. If two targets are found in the main beam, the locations of the two targets are determined by a closed-form solution of quadratic equations. A missile using a monopulse radar according to an aspect of the invention determines the presence of two targets within the main beam, which targets may be a real target and a decoy, and uses extrinsic information to identify a selected target as being the true target. The missile is homed in the direction of the selected target.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.