Target angle estimation of multifunction radar in search mode using digital beamforming technique

We propose a new target angle estimation method for a multifunction radar in search mode using the digital beamforming technique. The conventional center of mass-based method (CM method) used in mechanical scanning radar or two-dimensional digital beamforming radar is not very useful for a three-dimensional multifunction radar due to many problems. We suggest a three-beam-based angle estimation method (3B method) to reduce the target angle estimation error by the CM method. The 3B method estimates the target angle in search mode with less error than the CM method for all Swerling cases and signal-to-noise ratio.