Multistatic radar

An important distinction of systems based on these individual radar geometries is the added requirement for some level of data fusion to take place between component parts.

The following characteristics are unique to the multistatic arrangement, where multiple transmitter-receiver pairs are present: Increased coverage in multistatic radar may be obtained via the spreading of the radar geometry throughout the surveillance area - such that targets might be more likely to be physically closer to transmitter receiver-pairs and thus attain a higher signal-to-noise ratio.

By weighting and integrating individual returns (such as through likelihood ratio based detectors), detection can be optimised to place more emphasis on stronger returns obtained from certain monostatic or bistatic radar cross section values, or from favourable propagation paths, when making a decision as to whether a target is present.

One notable area of interest is in sea clutter, and how diversity in reflectivity and Doppler shift might prove beneficial for detection in a maritime environment.

Target features such as variation in the radar cross section or jet engine modulation may be observed by transmitter-receiver pairs within a multistatic system.

A fault in either transmitter or receiver for a monostatic or bistatic system will lead to a complete loss of radar functionality.

To deduce the range or velocity of a target relative to a multistatic system, knowledge of the spatial location of transmitters and receivers is required.

The increase in information from the multiple monostatic or bistatic pairs in the multistatic system must be combined for benefits to be realised.

Several passive radar systems make use of multiple spatially diverse transmitters and hence may be considered to operate multistatically.