The mockup of high-resolution airborne dual-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) was successfully tested by the specialists from “RI PI”, “TUSUR” (Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics) and Research and Production Company “Micran”.       

The compact airborne dual-band synthetic aperture radar was developed on a joint basis by the professional staff from JSC “RI PI”, “TUSUR” (Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics) and Research and Production Company “Micran” (Tomsk) under the sponsorship of Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

A new SAR with advanced performance characteristics can be mounted on a light aircraft, on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or on a helicopter and is designed for radar mapping under any weather conditions. Michail Rovkin, senior research worker of “TUSUR” (Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics):

- The SAR distinguishing characteristic lies in its parameters: radiated power and all-band capability. The micro-navigation system developed takes into account all trajectory instabilities of UAV or a light aircraft. It enables to substantially increase a level of detail.

A high resolution mapping of 900 km² area can be carried out during one mission. It was verified during flight testing of a SAR mockup.  

The obtained results will improve positioning accuracy of flooding boundaries, soil condition, sowing qualities of plantings and forests, petroleum products spill, small-sized objects detection and so forth. Roman Ermakov, laboratory chief, JSC "RI PI":

- We draw on our many years of experience in small-sized radar developing. We suggested and validate basic system engineering solutions for hardware architecture of a new R&D product, developed an operation principle, a functional block diagram and operation algorithms as to a dual-band SAR itself and software for its control. We also developed software for the SAR ground segment providing radar image synthesis. The experimental tests onboard a testbed aircraft verified a significant improvement of resolution capability up to 0.2 m with an 8 km capture bandwidth. We used up-to-date, high-speed and broadband digital modules for signal generation and discretization. In the nearest future they will enable to implement a real-time imagery mode.

The transceiving devices developed by “TUSUR” and manufactured by JSC Research and Production Company “MICRAN” are designed as per a new diagram with original active receiver protection and a substantially increased frequency band. A few up-to-date broadband and light antennas operating in two bands have been developed and tested for a new SAR.

The development of system prototype model has started.

    RIPI Press Service,
Based on the information from “TUSUR”