Efficient Improved Algorithm for Joint Localization Based on Bistatic Range and Range Difference

Achieving real-time high-precision target localization in multistatic radar systems remains challenging due to the computational complexity of existing joint estimation methods. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a novel localization algorithm that jointly leverages bistatic range (BR) and range difference (RD) measurements through a reformulated linear equation. Conventional approaches predominantly employ two-step weighted least squares (WLS) methods, which introduce auxiliary variables to mitigate estimation errors at the cost of significantly increased computational load and degraded real-time performance. Our method analytically examines the correlation between BR and RD parameters to formulate a linear equation containing only the target position vector as the unknown, eliminating auxiliary variables required in two-step WLS implementations. This simplification reduces the traditional two-step optimization to a single-step WLS operation, dramatically decreasing computational complexity. Simulation results demonstrate comparable localization accuracy to conventional two-step-WLS-based joint algorithms while achieving computational speed improvements exceeding fourfold. This work establishes both the theoretical foundation and technical pathway for real-time high precision multistatic radar localization.