In the detection of maneuvering weak targets, the statistical characteristics are unknown and the echo signal is difficult to model for the clutter and interference in the echo signal, so the posterior probability density function can’t be obtained and the performance of traditional particle filter algorithm decreases. Aiming at this problem, target detection before track algorithm with MIMO radar based on cost reference particle filter. The algorithm does not require of the statistical characteristics of the background noise. The difference between the true value and the estimated value of the target state is used to calculate the cost and weight of each particle, the posterior probability density doesn’t require the model of noise. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is superior to the traditional particle filter algorithm when the noise statistics are unknown.
