Radar Detection of Helicopters with Application of CLEAN Method

We discuss detection and identification of helicopters in an air surveillance radar (ASR). The presented solution consists in detecting characteristic elements of the helicopter echo, with application of a CLEAN method for rejection of the fuselage echo that masks weaker components of the signal. This enables identification of rotor blade and hub echo, and, finally, identification of a helicopter. All ideas presented have been verified with synthetic signals, as well as with real recorded signals.