The transfer of the forward scatter (FS) concept to passive coherent location (FS PCL) systems provides a new emerging area of research. This article is dedicated to the investigation of various aspects of a bistatic passive coherent location (PCL) system operating in the FS mode. For efficient signal processing, appropriate FS PCL system analysis is presented. It is shown that using a relatively small modernisation of traditional signal processing algorithms, a PCL system may effectively operate against stealth and low profile targets crossing or being located in the vicinity of the radar baseline. The FS signals have been analysed in view of finding key effects and parameters influencing the waveforms and spectra which define the overall signal processing. Experimental results are given to validate the presented analysis.

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In this paper the Doppler phase signature forming in Forward Scatter Radar (FSR) is analyzed to show the rationale for "true" forward scatter radar where a target actually crosses the baseline and the whole Doppler signature is used for target detection, speed and trajectory estimation. Several measured Doppler signatures are compared where the target is in one of diffraction zones with the view to separate between pure shadow radiation and bistatic scattering. Two identical objects, metallic and magnetic absorber covered, are chosen to demonstrate the difference in shadow and bistatic scattering mechanisms.

To develop forward-scatter radar (FSR) systems for use in maritime applications, a fundamental understanding of the operating environment is required. Currently, there is a lack of published experimental FSR sea clutter data at very low (near-zero) grazing angle over the sea. This data is necessary for the development of FSR systems for maritime applications. Therefore to facilitate further investigation, clutter data for such a system has been recorded at frequencies of 7.5 and 24 GHz with static, medium gain antennas for low sea states 1-3 on the Douglas scale. Analysis of forward scatter propagation phenomena is presented, and spectral and statistical analysis of forward-scatter clutter is performed.

There is a lack of published experimental forward-scattering radar sea clutter data at very low (almost zero) grazing angle over the sea. This data is necessary to provide a fundamental understanding of the operating environment for the development of forward-scatter radar systems for maritime applications. Experimental data has therefore been recorded at frequencies of 7.5 GHz, 9.3 GHz, 24 GHz, and 37.5GHz using Forward Scatter Radar with static, medium gain antennas for low sea states 1-3. Results of clutter power spectral density measurements are presented and conclusions drawn from the results.

The development of Forward Scatter Radar (FSR) for use in maritime applications requires a fundamental understanding of the operating environment. Presently, there is insufficiency of published experimental FSR sea clutter data at near zero grazing angle over the sea. Such data is fundamental for the development of FSR systems for maritime applications. Therefore clutter experiments have been undertaken and data has been recorded at frequencies of 7.5 GHz and 24 GHz with static, medium gain antennas for low sea state 1-3 on the Douglas scale. Analysis of forward scatter propagation phenomena is presented, and spectral and statistical analysis of forward scatter clutter is performed.

Maritime security is related to national economic and political interests and is strategically important. One efficient way to accomplish maritime border protection is to use the netted forward scatter radar (FSR). FSR is a special type of bistatic radar that operates in a relatively narrow scattering area along the transmitter-receiver baseline, where the effect of the electromagnetic waves forward scattering on targets is dominant above other scattering mechanisms, and in this case, a forward scatter (FS) cross section may increase by orders of magnitude in comparison with the monostatic radar cross section (RCS). Considered in this study are the major problems of marine forward scattering radar detection and estimation of length of low-profile (small and slow) marine targets using a pre-processing approach. It is based on the assumption that the variation of the phase and amplitude in the Doppler signal signature is stronger inside the FS zone than in an outside region. Two variants of preprocessing algorithms are presented in the study, one for the envelope and the other for the phase. Both variants are based on the use the local variance filtering. The results obtained prove the sufficient improvement in a signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR). Estimation of the marine target length under the low SCR is designed using the assumption of known or previously estimated velocity. Presented results demonstrate high accuracy of length estimation. Considered steps of targets detection and target attributes evaluations are necessary for maritime targets classification. The designed algorithms are verified using a set of experimental records of signals from different marine targets obtained using marine FSR developed by the teams from

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