Impact of an Electromagnetic Interference on Imaging Capability of a Synthetic Aperture Radar

The imaging capability of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) could be seriously limited or denied by an electromagnetic interference. The effects of a wideband noise-like interference are to mask the scene visible in the imaged area with a high uniform noise level. In this paper we evaluate the impact of a jammer on the imaging capability of a space-borne SAR. The vulnerability measure is defined as the imaged area over which the jammer denies information acquisition. Simulated results show how a jammer can deny the SAR imaging capability for all range access area and for a long azimuth area. The obscuration extends over a distance that is governed by the one way azimuth pattern of the radar antenna and the jammer equivalent isotropic radiate power (EIRP). The same analysis has been carried out using an antenna nulling technique. Results show a more limited denied area for focusing a SAR image, obtaining improved operability for the sensor.