Image-while-scan results from the X-band Wideband Experimental Airborne Radar

Defence Research and Development Canada - Ottawa has developed an experimental airborne radar referred to as the X-band Wideband Experimental Airborne Radar (XWEAR). The radar was designed to support research into SAR imaging of fixed and moving targets (ocean and land), time-frequency analysis of moving targets, clutter suppression for GMTI radar, and ocean surveillance for small and large target detection. Hence, the system is capable of collecting data in synthetic aperture radar, inverse synthetic aperture radar, ground moving target indication and maritime surveillance modes. In the following, a description of the experimental radar is given. Results from operation in an image-while-scan mode, whereby the system was operating in a maritime surveillance mode and Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery was produced from the data collected while the antenna scanned maritime targets, are then presented. Finally, the paper summarizes with a discussion on the utility of performing ISAR while in a scanning surveillance mode.