Development Status of Compact X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar Compatible with a100kg-class SAR Satellite and Its Future Plan

We have proposed a novel SAR system compatible with a 100kg-class small satellite. This SAR development is funded for four years (2016-2019) by Japanese government. At present we are developing engineering model (EM). This paper describes the EM test preliminary results and the future plan. The specifications of SAR observation are single polarization SAR with 1m ground resolution at minimum. A size of the satellite is 0.7m x 0.7m x 0.7m on a rocket. A size of the deployed antenna is 4.9m x 0.7m. Novel parallel-plate slotted array antennas made of honeycomb panel have been developed. Six outputs from GaN HEMT power amplifiers are combined in a waveguide resonator and 1 kW RF transmitting power is fed to the antenna trough non-contact choke flanges at deployable hinges (patented)