NATO research: Millimetre wave imaging

As semiconductor technology matured in the late 1980s interest in both active and passive millimetre wave imaging increased. Imaging at millimetre wavelengths offered the capability of penetrating poor weather and maintaining good angular resolution with relatively small equipment. The military potential of this new capability was diverse and ranged from surveillance to new weapon requirements. A NATO research study group, RSG20, was formed to undertake collaborative research on this topic. A major multi-national measurement campaign was commissioned at Swynnerton in the UK; it was called MIMEX (Millimetre Wave Imaging Experiment). This activity produced a large volume of millimetre wave imagery both active and passive. In this paper the application of this imagery to surveillance and weapon systems will be discussed.