Multi-channel SAR/MTI system development at FGAN: from AER to PAMIR

An experimental platform for various investigations on multifunctional SAR and MTI, a four channel airborne X-band SAR with an active phased array antenna has been built up at FGAN, called ´AER´ (airborne experimental radar). The system has been operating since 1995 via truck borne experiments and since 1996 via flight experiments. This system was useful in the past for evaluation of scientific work on several areas of signal and image processing. However, the demands to SAR systems increased over the last years. For this reason, FGAN is developing a new SAR system called PAMIR (phased array multifunctional imaging radar) as a successor of AER. PAMIR will offer a finer resolution, a longer range, a large scan flexibility and new modes compared to AER.