Bistatic SAR experiment with the Ingara imaging radar

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) operation in a bistatic configuration not only offers various advantages over its now well-established monostatic counterpart but also poses various challenges. As part of a research programme into the potential benefits and challenges of bistatic SAR, the Ingara fully polarimetric X-band airborne imaging radar system, developed and operated by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation, was upgraded to conduct experimental SAR data collections in a bistatic geometry. Initial trials of the new bistatic SAR system were conducted between December 2007 and April 2008: these involved operation of the existing airborne radar in a fine-resolution (600 MHz bandwidth) circular spotlight-SAR mode, in conjunction with a newly developed fully polarimetric stationary ground-based bistatic receiver. These experimental trials produced a set of fully polarimetric simultaneously collected monostatic and bistatic SAR data, collected over a wide range of bistatic angles. Results from a preliminary analysis of the data have been encouraging: focussed fine-resolution imagery has been obtained, indicating the successful maintenance of synchronisation and phase stability between the independent airborne and ground-based systems. Furthermore, interferometric coherence has been demonstrated between single-pass simultaneously collected monostatic and bistatic images from the airborne and ground-based receivers, and between repeat-pass bistatic images from the ground-based receiver collected some 100 min apart. This study gives an overview of the Ingara bistatic SAR system, discusses the experiments and data processing and presents initial experimental results.