Investigation of the influence of camouflage on the ATR performance for highly resolved ISAR-images of relocatable targets

Abstract

By means of data from highly resolved tower-turntable ISAR measurements this paper investigates the influence of camouflage on the ATR performance. The recognition process is based on a template matching method. The two-dimensional templates are generated by extracting the most robust scatterers from the RCS image. Based on data sets of ISAR tower-turntable measurements, this paper shows the potential effect of some different camouflage methods on the ATR performace of a HR X band radar system. Camouflage by covering the target with birch branches is as well tested as occlusion by radar nets. Of course, a significant attenuation of the radar signal by the coverage of the target is precondition for affecting the ATR performance. This given, the degree of occlusion determines the impact on the reconnaissance, or other wise regarded, the applied ATR system shows a good robustness, if the target is only partially occluded. Additionaly, tests are undertaken to investigate the influence of multi-path effects by a reflecting ground. Here also, a remarkable effect on the ATR performance can be observed, depending on the degree of coverage of the target surrounding area. Finally, for complemantary a decoy designed for optical and infra-red application is tested with a classifier trained on the origin target. There, no deception of our ATR system can be observed.