detection of moving targets in stepped-frequency radars using dcft

one of the most common signals used for achieving high range resolution in radar is stepped-frequency signals. when a target is stationary in these radars, dft (discrete fourier transform) based processing is used to attain high range resolution profile (hrrp). however, in the case of moving target, due to spreading of the echo signal spectrum, dft based processing is not optimal and decreases detection performance and also prevents achieving hrrp. because the model of echo signal reflected from a moving target is similar to the linear frequency modulated signal or chirp, in the present paper a new processing algorithm is proposed based on replacing dft with dcft (discrete chirp-fourier transform). the main focus of this paper is to prove that the proposed algorithm can completely compensate performance loss caused by target velocity and also make hrr achieved. also computational complexity of both algorithms are computed and compared with each other.