Moving target modelling and indication in MIMO GEO SAR

Multiple-input multiple-output geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar (MIMO GEO SAR), composed by several mini-satellites in GEO orbits, has more spatial degrees of freedom, which helps to suppress clutter and improves the performance of ground moving target indication (GMTI). However, in order to ensure the satellite safety, the satellite spacing in MIMO GEO SAR is very large. It results in the failure of far-field assumption and causes the moving target defocusing because of the mismatch between the steering vector in far-field sources and the moving target echo. Here, a new signal model based on the near-field sources is first given according to the GEO SAR satellite-ground geometry relationship. Then, considering the phase difference between the different channels, the spatial steering vector is derived and the weight vector for adaptive processing is proposed to suppress clutter and indicate the moving target. Finally, computer simulations are carried out for the validation of the proposed method.