Some system considerations for electronic countermeasures to synthetic aperture radar

The SEASAT mission of 1978 demonstrated the potential effectiveness of space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for maritime reconnaissance. However, a significant vulnerability to electronic countermeasures can be shown to exist for SAR, which will tend to nullify this potential. Some critical systems aspects, in terms of jammer receiver sensitivity and transmitter power, for simple spot-noise jamming of a typical space-based SAR are considered and the systems requirements derived to determine the feasibility and practicality of such jamming. Finally, results of computer simulation of an engagement between the SAR and a representative jammer system are given to enable the effectiveness of the electronic countermeasures to be assessed.<>