MMW (Millimetric Wave) SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) on RPV for Battlefield Surveillance,

In this paper the remarkable capabilities and features of airborne synthetic aperture radar SAR, operating in the millimetric wavemmw region, are discussed with reference to a battlefield surveillance application. The SAR system provides high resolution real-time imaging of the battlefield and moving target detection, under adverse environmental conditions e.g. weather, dust, smoke, obscurants. The most relevant and original aspects of the system described in the paper are the band of operation i.e. mmv in lieu of the more traditional microwave region and the use of an unmanned platform. The former implies reduced weight and size requirements, thus allowing use of small unmanned platform. The latter enhances the system operational effectiveness by permitting accomplishment of recognition missions in depth beyond the FEBA. An overall system architecture is described based on the onboard sensor, the platform, the communication equipment, and a mobile ground station. The relevant problem of detection and imaging of moving target is finally described.