Aircraft on-board SAR processing using a frequency-domain fast correlation technique

Abstract

The design of a frequency-domain fast correlation processor for aircraft onboard synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) applications is described. The design uses the fast Fourier transform (FFT) fast correlation technique to perform both range and azimuth pulse compression functions for the NASA/JPL L-band, quad-polarization airborne SAR. The subject processor is computationally efficient and requires a simple control unit. It is capable of producing single-look, 8-m (slant range) by 10-m (azimuth) resolution, SAR images of a selected polarization over a swath width of up to 15 km in real time onboard the aircraft.