Performance Analysis of Two-Stage Covert ISAC Systems with Sensing Imperfections

This letter analyzes the performance of two-stage covert integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems under practical sensing imperfections. Unlike prior studies assuming ideal conditions, we investigate realistic error models in the detection stage, specifically focusing on angle estimation errors. We analyze how these imperfections adversely affect the non-centrality parameter of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT), resulting in the degradation of the full-duplex transceiver’s sensing capability and altering the optimal covert communication strategy. Numerical results confirm that even minor sensing errors significantly reduce covert throughput, highlighting the necessity for robust designs in practical ISAC deployments.