High-precision temperature drift compensated T/R-module for satellite based SAR applications

The paper discusses the design, the main features and the measured performance of a T/R-module for a synthetic aperture radar. The internal temperature drift compensation over a wide temperature range as well as the low noise amplification during receive operation are the key features of the module including polarisation agility, high gain- and phase accuracy. The module is a qualified product. One platform for the T/R-module is the high-resolution radar satellite TerraSAR-X, an X-band synthetic aperture radar earth observation spacecraft. The X-Band T/R-module has been especially developed by EADS for this SAR-instrument. The 'Standardised Modular T/R-module' (SMTR-module) is the core unit together with two further physical building blocks 'front-end electronics' and the 'control electronics', all of them are assembled in one common housing. Architecture and technology approach for the SMTR-module satisfy the requirements for generic applications in the active electronic scanned antenna (AESA) field. Besides SAR all kind of radar applications could be performed with the SMTR, which is an excellent example for spin-off and synergy.