Research on forward-looking synthetic aperture radar imaging algorithm of high velocity platform

As having the imaging ability of area in front of flight direction, forward-looking synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has become a hot topic in areas of SAR research. Nevertheless, existing imaging algorithms of forward-looking SAR are all based on the assumption that the platform is moving in low velocity. When this assumption is not satisfied, the imaging result of existing algorithms will show focus out effect and deviation of imaging position from real position. Aiming at this problem and taking airborne forward-looking SAR system using single transmitting and multiple receiving antennas as the research object, this paper analyzes the feasibility of forward-looking SAR imaging of high velocity platform, and proposes a forward-looking SAR imaging algorithm suitable for high velocity platform according to its spatial geometry and the model of echo signal. Finally, the raw echo data of an array of point targets is simulated, and the focused images are obtained using the algorithm proposed in this paper. Imaging results demonstrate the validity of the algorithm.