Design, performance and calibration review of RBX. INTA new polarimetric SAR system

RBX is the new airborne based X-Band SAR system prototype developed by INTA Radar Laboratory. The first prototype RBX-P1, available since 2012, has interferometric and full-polarimetric capabilities with sub-metric resolution. RBX main features are its modular design, allowing easy upgradeable capabilities; the inclusion of a real time on board processing and the emphasis on system on board internal calibration, which is based in several signal loops included in the front-end and a complete temperature monitoring scheme. In this paper, RBX architecture, main subsystems and internal calibration capabilities are shown. RBX on ground characterization and calibration performances, both internal and external, in order to improve data products are also presented.