Performance of the P-band subsystem and the X-band interferometer of the F-SAR airborne SAR instrument

The F-SAR airborne SAR instrument represents the successor of the E-SAR system of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which had previously been extensively used over the last three decades. Its development was triggered by the current demand for simultaneous acquisitions at different wavelengths and polarisations as well as by the demand for very high resolution in the order of decimetres. F-SAR is a modular development utilising state of the art hardware. As for E-SAR, DLRs Dornier DO228-212 aircraft is the first choice as platform for the new system. With the recently completed X-band single-pass interferometer and the P-band subsystem, F-SAR is now ready for fully replacing the E-SAR. This paper presents the two new subsystems and analyses their performance based on fully polarimetric imagery acquired during recent system test and calibration campaigns.