Radar Transceiver module for QUASAR UAV based polarimetric SAR system

A compact fully polarimetric Ku band SAR system (SBK) is being developed by INTA radar Laboratory as flight segment for QUASAR project, which involves INTA SAR developments for small platforms and UAV´s. SBK design is based on previous developments of INTASAR program for his X-band SAR prototypes, RIX and RBX, focusing work on units miniaturization and new RF payload development. As part of RF developments, a highly stable Ku band Transceiver module is being designed in order to provide an up-converted transmitted chirp to Antenna Front-end and to perform received echo down-conversion to baseband. Architecture, control and monitoring capabilities and mechanical aspects for SBK Transceiver module are shown. Module characterization and calibration in order to improve SBK system accuracy are also presented.