RS-AFRFT: A Coherent Integration Method for High-Speed Extended Target Detection in Agile Frequency Radar

In the domain of high-speed target processing using Agile Frequency Radar (AFR), a coherent accumulation algorithm based on the Agile Frequency Radon-Fourier Transform (AFRFT) has been developed. However, when the synthesized bandwidth is large and there is a lack of prior target information, the real-time performance of this algorithm can significantly degrade. Additionally, multiple scattering centers under wide-band conditions can hinder the detection of extended targets. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Reorder and Segmentation AFRFT (RS-AFRFT) algorithm. This algorithm first sorts all pulses according to their frequencies, then segments the rearranged pulses to widen the search steps. Finally, it completes the inter-pulse accumulation by combining intra-segment AFRFT processing with inter-segment fusion processing. Theoretical analysis and simulations based on real electromagnetic data confirm the superior performance of the proposed algorithm. Compared to the traditional AFRFT algorithm, the RS-AFRFT method not only effectively reduces computational complexity but also improves target detection performance by integrating multiple scattering centers of extended targets.