Nadir-Looking Synthetic Aperture Radar (NadirSAR)

Goleta Star and the University of Florida (UFL) will jointly develop Nadir SAR 3D imaging capability from a Circular SAR orbit that can be transitioned into selected Army applications, primarily existing single-channel radars. Both Goleta and UFL have 3D imaging background and relevant capability that will jointly feed into the desired imaging technology development. In addition Goleta Star has available radar data collection capability that can provide relevant radar data early on, even in the Phase 1 effort, to feed the algorithm development efforts. The data driven 3D design will begin in Phase 1 and then continue and expand in Phase 2 to provide the capability that can then be transitioned. The result will be very-high-resolution (as fine as 0.1-m) three-dimensional imaging techniques that will allow current and future Army microwave / millimeter wave synthetic aperture radars (SARs) to detect and identify targets in urban canyons, concealed under foliage, and other challenging environments using data collected with circular flight path trajectories.