In the R&D project SOSTAR-X (Stand-Off Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar – Experimental), the partner nations of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain have at their disposal a demonstrator that can test the capabilities of modern all-weather sensors (radar systems with active antenna) for ground surveillance.
The platform to be used is a modified Fokker 100. A radome approximately 2.5 m long with scalable Active Electronic Scanned phased Array (AESA) antenna with electronic beam steering will be mounted under the aircraft. The radar sensor delivers moving target indication (MTI) data. The radar sensor is used to track moving ground targets and at the same time deliver synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images at a high resolution significantly below 1 metre.
This information can be gathered at a range of over 150 km, thus permitting operation from a safe distance. Mission planning and initial data analysis will be primarily carried out on board the Fokker 100 from two guidance and control stations. The system uses a broadband data transmission link to receive mission plan updates and to transmit the radar data in real time to the ground stations for detailed analysis. The system characteristics include radar scanning of ground targets and continuous tracking of detected ground targets and helicopters. The system produces high-resolution SAR images, which can be used to identify moving targets on the ground via spectrum analysis.
Other characteristics include highly accurate ranging over great distances and the generation of inverse SAR images of moving targets on the ground. Overall programme responsibility lies with Sostar GmbH. The European shareholders of Sostar GmbH - Dutch Space, EADS, Galileo Avionica, Indra Sistemas and Thales - will receive a system that combines all the capabilities of a modern ground surveillance radar with electronic beam steering. and satisfies the key requirements of the NATO AGS system.
