A Proposed Algorithm for Range Ambiguities Suppression in Multi-Static SAR

In a conventional synthetic aperture radar (SAR), good azimuth resolution and wide coverage pose contradicting requirements for the pulse repetition frequency (PRF). With a PRF tailored to a desired resolution, range ambiguities is then the main obstacle to a wide swath imaging. This paper proposes a method, based on a minimum variance distortion-less response (MVDR) beam former, to suppress range ambiguities, in range Doppler domain, via a coherent combination of echoes from multiple satellites maneuvering in a close formation. Numerical results in L band confirm validity of the approach. Limits of the technique and main difficulties in improving suppression performance are also discussed