Range migrating target detection based on Rao criterion under spiky clutter background

This paper studies the detection problem of the range migrating and extended target embedded in spiky clutter. Firstly, we consider the migrating target as point target, and a detector is designed based on the Rao criterion under the assumption of known covariance matrix. Then, we generalize the point target detector to the range extended target detector. Through the mathematical derivation, we demonstrate that the range extended target detection statistic can be expressed as the accumulation of point target detection statistic. With some approximation, the two proposed detector's constant false alarm rate ability to clutter power, spikiness and covariance matrix is verified by Monte-Carlo method. The performances of the two detectors are evaluated by numerical simulations. The simulation results show that the proposed detectors can achieve better detection performance than existing similar detectors.