X-band microwave modules for both PAZ and RBX novel active radar calibrator system

This paper describes mainly the design and the features of the RadioFrequency (RF) unit which is part of the development of a novel active X-band SAR system calibrator for both PAZ satellite and airborne prototypes (RBX, RIX) by INTA. The ground calibrator consists of an active transponder path and a detector path. This system will be used for absolute radiometric calibration of SAR image data and for antenna pattern evaluation, besides it provides a monitoring of the performance of the transponder itself. During the validation phase of both the PAZ and the RBX missions in 2014 this system will be demanded.