SAR imaging technology to match infrared pursued by Raytheon, Nuvotronics, BAE Systems
ARLINGTON, Va., 6 Dec. 2012.Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) experts at three U.S. defense companies are developing a new kind of imaging radar technology intended to detect and track moving targets through clouds with the same ability that current infrared targeting systems have in clear weather.
Radar scientists at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have chosen Raytheon Co. Missile Systems segment in Tucson, Ariz.; Nuvotronics LLC in Radford, Va.; and the BAE Systems Electronic Systems segment in Merrimack, N.H., for the initial phase of the Video Synthetic Aperture Radar (ViSAR) program.
ViSAR seeks to develop flyable extremely high frequency (EHF) radar exciters and receivers, synthetic aperture radar scene simulation tools, and novel EHF radar-processing algorithms.
Engineers from Raytheon, Nuvotronics, and BAE Systems will develop EHF video synthetic aperture radar technology able to provide high-resolution imagery at high frame rates while minimizing size, weight, and power (SWAP).
DARPA issued the ViSAR solicitation last May, and awarded a potential $2 million contract to Raytheon on Tuesday; a $4.2 million contract to Nuvotronics on Monday, and a potential $1.14 million contract to BAE Systems on 5 Nov.
DARPA officials already are making plans to move ahead with ViSAR system design and development, and will brief industry on their objectives on 10 Dec. 2012 in Arlington, Va.
The upcoming ViSAR system design and development phase will design a flyable EHF high-power amplifier that will provide sufficient power to enable synthetic aperture radar to produce images through clouds.
The ViSAR proposers' day will provide information on the ViSAR program, take questions from potential proposers, and encourage potential proposers to present their capabilities and form industry teams.
For more information contact Raytheon Missile Systems online at www.raytheon.com/businesses/rms, Nuvotronics at http://nuvotronics.com, BAE Systems at www.baesystems.com, or DARPA at www.darpa.mil.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
