Sandia's radar systems are real-world tested and operating across the globe
Since 1997, Sandia-developed Radar Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems have been addressing and supporting military applications in all U.S. geographic Unified Combatant Commands (COCOMs). Sandia's Radar Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) program designs, tests, and integrates cutting-edge technology to demonstrate, field, and support high-impact systems for the end-user. The program has a number of systems currently deployed around the world for a variety of missions. These systems are not only crucial in fighting terrorism and supporting the warfighter but also offer a tailored approach to meeting a range of mission objectives.
Using Sandia's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Coherent Change Detection (CCD) capability, experts are able to compare before and after images to determine if there were any changes in activity. Coherent Change Detection (CCD) is able to detect activity where an optical image, or even a standard Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image, may not be able to provide any intelligence.
Sandia's Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs) offer valuable intelligence for facilities and border protection missions, including the ability to identify security threats along the border.
Using Sandia's MiniSAR technology, analysts are able to identify hidden threats and can effectively screen large areas to determine safe landing strips for emergency air vehicles. The New York Air National Guard employs a fully-fieldable system that is used to make the task of supplying remote camps easier and the conduction of emergency operations safer and more efficient.
Using Stripmap Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), accurate imagery of oil spills have been obtained by peering through optical obstructions such as clouds, smoke, dust and water. The ability to obtain an accurate depiction of the situation in real-time has enabled more informed decision-making to help manage oil spills and prevent further issues. Oil spills are only one example of the many environmental applications that are well suited for Sandia’s Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems.
The Sandia-developed Rapid Terrain Visualization (RTV) Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR) has produced Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) Level 4 elevation models (3-m post spacing) in near real-time. The system has imaged 125 square nautical miles in each of its multiple 6-hour missions, and the data was delivered to the user within 8 hours of landing.
Sandia is working on advanced radar concepts to detect, locate and characterize targets of interest in the maritime and littoral environment. Conventional Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is limited because of a ship's constant motion. Sandia has worked to understand the nature of ship motion to tackle this problem in order to develop targeted modes and algorithms prime for maritime and littoral missions.
Sandia continues to be a leader in developing and fielding the next generation of world class Surveillance and Reconnaissance (S&R) systems to meet the military’s need for all-weather, day-and-night imaging. Sandia radars have demonstrated real-time Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image-formation and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) for multiple and simultaneous targets.