Signal analysis of airborne passive radar using transmissions of opportunity

The composite space-time snapshot signal for the airborne passive radar using transmissions of opportunity is presented. Power budget simulations based on a three-dimensional bistatic airborne passive radar geometry with typical parameters illustrate the power spectra and eigenspectra of the interference scenario and highlight the undesirable random range sidelobes coupling of the direct path and strong clutter signals. These effects drastically increase the significant eigenvalues of the interference covariance matrix, and thus inhibit target detection performances.