This thesis is the result of study into development, experimental testing and clutter analysis in a Forward Scatter Radar (FSR) designed to detect low reflectivity maritime targets at low grazing angles. The concept of such kind of maritime system is presented; its advantages for surveillance applications are described. Scattering of Electromagnetic (EM) Waves over the sea surface at different radar configurations is outlined with the focus made on forward scattering and appropriate sea clutter models. Phenomenology of the signals in FSR is examined and explained. The development of an experimental FSR hardware operating in X- and K- frequency bands for target detection and clutter analysis and its performance are described in details. It follows with the comprehensive analysis on the measured sea clutter which includes study of influence of a large number of parameters of the radar and sea conditions on the clutter spectral and statistical properties. Finally preliminary analysis of radio frequency (RF) target signatures made with the prototype radar is presented.