Airborne compact radar development at ONERA

Besides the main airborne ONERA SAR systems (SETHI and RAMSES-NG), the Radar Department has developed and has been using a compact radar payload dedicated to SAR applications embedded on a STEMME S10VT motorglider (BUSARD). Taking benefits from the large experience in low-size radar operation and specific digital technologies, a Radar “Cube Concept” named “CURACAO” is in the development phase. Combining high resolution SAR, GMTI, Polarimetry and a high waveform flexibility, the payload could be implemented on a large family of platforms. In this paper, we describe the Busard architecture Facility we usually operate to test new compact payloads. Then we present the new “Cube radar concept” CURACAO.