Forward-Looking Synthetic Aperture Radar (FLoSAR): The Array Approach

We consider a system aimed at improving the resolution of a conventional airborne radar, looking in the forward direction, by forming an end-fire synthetic array along the airplane line of flight. The system is designed to operate even in slant (non-horizontal) flight trajectories, and it allows imaging along the line of flight. By using the array theory, we analyze system geometry and ambiguity problems, and analytically evaluate the achievable resolution and the required pulse repetition frequency. Processing computational burden is also analyzed, and finally some simulation results are provided.