Range Migration in Symbol-Based OFDM Radar Receivers

In this paper, we propose an extension of the so-called "symbol-based" multicarrier radar receiver to compensate range migration via an efficient coherent summation. Indeed, this situation is likely to happen in dual function radar communications scenarios that include high-velocity scatterers with long integration time (e.g., weak targets, low radiated power). We derive the full expression of the range-Doppler map, encompassing the random sidelobes caused by the time-frequency dispersive nature of the radar channel. While the scatterer’s peak is conveniently restored, its sidelobes-plus-noise background power remain unchanged compared to a non-range migrating scenario. We develop a second-order statistical analysis of the range-Doppler map and we exemplify our results in a simulated airborne scenario in presence of ground clutter.