Development of a High-Resolution Wide-Swath SAR Demonstrator

The High Resolution Wide Swath (HRWS) SAR is a novel instrument concept which will overcome performance limitations of current SAR systems by application of digital beamforming technology. The DLR-funded HRWS Demonstrator project (2007-2011) at Astrium Friedrichshafen prepares the next-generation German Xband SAR mission by a demonstration of technological feasibility and performance capabilities of the HRWS instrument, including a cost/risk assessment. To achieve these goals, an integrated antenna panel including RF frontend electronics, down-conversion and digital beamforming hardware is developed, implemented and prequalified. The paper summarizes the current project status and results.