Multi-look stripmap SAR processing with built-in geometric correction

Small airborne SAR systems suffer from trajectory deviations and instabilities of antenna orientation. These kinds of motion errors lead to significant geometric distortions in SAR images. In the paper, we describe a time-domain multi-look stripmap SAR processing algorithm with built-in geometric correction. In the algorithm, the azimuth reference functions and range migration curves are designed to produce SAR images directly on a correct rectangular grid on the ground plane. The proposed technique has been successfully tested by using a Ku-band airborne SAR system, installed on a light-weight aircraft.