Low-SWaP Synthetic Aperture Radar Systems for UAVs

IMSAR is a leading developer of low-SWaP synthetic aperture radar systems that can be integrated with unmanned aerial vehicles and drones.

As a UST supplier partner, we showcase their unique solutions and capabilities via the IMSAR UST supplier profile which has been written and built by our team in collaboration with the company.

The Gold profile showcases IMSAR’s compact and lightweight radars, which complement EO/IR and electronic warfare (EW) payloads and provide advanced geospatial intelligence capabilities typically reserved for use on much larger platforms, in all weather conditions, day or night.

Read on to find out more:

Designed for Group 1 and 2 UAS, the NSP-2 is an extremely lightweight multi-mode SAR/GMTI payload that provides actionable intelligence in ground-based and maritime environments. It is available in MCD-only or MCD & CCD variants.

Requiring only power and Ethernet, the easy-to-operate NSP-2 can be controlled via IMSAR’s intuitive Lisa 3D Command and Control (C2) and Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) software. A Radar Control API is also available for easy integration with third-party and custom-developed software suites.

The NSP-2 can be connected to a Ground Processing Server via a datalink for real-time data processing, or radar data can be stored onboard the pod for post-mission processing.

The NSP-3 is an all-weather multi-mode SAR designed for land and maritime operations both during the day and at night.

The low-SWaP system is available in a Mod-Payload configuration, comprised of two pods, with the antenna subsystem in one and the radar and processing electronics in the other. This allows the NSP-3 to be easily integrated with the antenna pod mounted externally and the electronics inside the fuselage, or with any custom mounting arrangement.

The NSP-5 is a low SWaP multimode SAR/MTI radar system designed to gather real-time actionable intelligence when employed with tactical UAVs for both land and maritime environments. Built into a rugged weatherproof pod, the system can be installed via a quick-connect rail with blind mate connections, a strongback rail, designed into a payload bay, or even as a quick attach/release with MIL-Spec 14” lug mounts.

The NSP-7 is an extended-range multi-mode SAR designed for larger UAVs. Capable of imaging at distances of up to 55 km at a 1 metre resolution, it provides high-performance intelligence-gathering capabilities during the day or at night under all weather conditions.

The NSP-7’s rugged weatherproof pod requires only power, ethernet and a connection to a GPS antenna, and can be attached with MIL-Spec 14” lug mounts or via an adapter plate to the pod’s strongback rail. IMSAR can also design custom integration solutions for specific UAVs.

PSAR is a low-SWaP SAR designed to provide imaging capabilities to HALE (high-altitude long endurance) UAVs, HAPS (high-altitude pseudo-satellites), unmanned balloons and other stratospheric platforms previously unable to carry radar sensors.

Based on IMSAR’s military-proven NanoSAR technology, the innovative system uses a low-loss, additive-manufactured aluminum antenna as a structural and thermal component as well as for transmitting and receiving radar signals, saving space and weight. The unit can be connected to a Ground Processing Server via a datalink for real-time data processing.

PSAR can be controlled via the intuitive Lisa 3D Command and Control (C2) and Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) software. A Radar Control API is also available for easy integration with third-party and custom-developed software suites.

Lisa 3D is a fully integrated software package that provides intuitive mission planning and data handling for multiple sensors. It allows operators to perform real-time analysis of data from radars, EO/IR payloads, vessel AIS and a variety of other sources and generate actionable intelligence for improved decision-making.

Drone operators can create detailed data collection plans for multiple sensors and modes, and use these to generate flight plans. Lisa 3D provides real-time tracking of sensors and monitoring of flight characteristics, and mission plans and collection modes can be dynamically altered on the fly.

Lisa 3D supports a wide range of file types for import and export, and data products from multiple sensors can be easily viewed, annotated and marked.

To find out more about IMSAR and their high-performance SAR systems for UAVs, please visit their profile page:
https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/imsar/