The PHARUS project, results of the definition study including the SAR testbed PHARS

The PHARUS (Phased Array Universal SAR) project aims for a polarimetric C-band aircraft synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that will be finalized in 1994. The system will make use of a phased array antenna with solid-state amplifiers. The project consists of a definition phase and a realization phase. The definition phase is intended to increase the knowledge on airborne SAR systems and to develop the critical technology that will be used in the final system. Three preparatory studies were carried out before the PHARUS system was designed. The study on antenna technology and calibration focused on the design of an active phased array antenna and on the calibration problems involved in using such an antenna. The second study concentrated on motion compensation and the third study consisted of the realization of a SAR testbed. Some results of the definition phase, including the results obtained from the first test flights of the SAR testbed, are given. The PHARUS predesign is described