Innovative Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI) for Hypersonic Air Vehicles

ABSTRACT:During Phase I of the proposed effort, Solid State Scientific Corporation (SSSC) will develop the design for an innovative SAR/GMTI system to be deployed on hypersonic air vehicles traveling between Mach 5 and 7. Performing SAR and GMTI from a fast-moving hypersonic platform introduces a unique set of challenges on sensor array design, which are not present for typical airborne radar systems. In particular, advanced techniques are necessary to resolve the conflicting requirements of high resolution, large ground swath, compact array, low MDV, and hypersonic velocity. Technical objectives for Phase I include: (i) Develop an initial design by evaluating trade-offs between sensor geometry, radar operating parameters, CONOPs, and performance requirements, (ii) Identify and resolve radar system design challenges which are unique to hypersonic air vehicles, and (iii) validate the design using high-fidelity simulated data. The scope of the work will include a physics-based analysis, simulations, and literature review, to understand the effects of a hypersonic flow field on the ability to operate a radar on a hypersonic vehicle. Phase II work will include finalizing the design, and delivering to the Air Force a simulation tool to estimate SAR/GMTI performance for hypersonic vehicles and trajectories.BENEFIT:The anticipated benefits of this effort will include a significant advance in the understanding and design of radar systems for hypersonic air vehicles, thereby enhancing U.S. Air Force ISR capability.