Integrated Reconnaissance and Strike

Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is the all-weather core sensing payload for integrated fighter jets/long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, which compensates for the shortcomings of electro-optical/infrared pods in rain, fog, smoke, camouflage, and nighttime failure. It connects the entire kill chain loop of "wide area search precise positioning fire control binding guidance assistance damage assessment" and achieves integrated combat of "visible, lockable, accurate, and clear judgment".

1、 The core advantages of SAR over electro-optical payloads

1. Full time and global work:Based on the principle of microwave imaging, it is not affected by day and night, rainstorm, dense fog, sand dust, and battlefield smoke. It can penetrate thin vegetation, camouflage nets, and simple bunkers to effectively detect concealed targets.

2. Wide area moving target detection:Support large-scale strip scanning, covering an area far exceeding that of optical TV fields; Combined with the GMTI ground moving target indication function, it can automatically identify and continuously track dynamic targets such as armored convoys, artillery, and mobile missile vehicles.

3. High precision anti-interference positioning:Equipped with precise geographic coordinates and elevation information, it can be separated from GPS satellite navigation and achieve target positioning through scene matching, adapting to complex electromagnetic warfare battlefield environments.

4. Self destructive assessment:Without the need to approach the target, the damage to the target can be accurately determined and the threat of air defense firepower can be avoided by comparing the temporal images before and after.

2、 SAR supports the integration of reconnaissance and attack throughout the entire combat chain

1. Wide Area Search and Reconnaissance: Global Situation Awareness ("Discover First")

The mid to high altitude long endurance reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (Wing Loong, Rainbow series, MQ-9) are equipped with Ku/X-band airborne SAR, with a detection range of tens of kilometers at an altitude of tens of thousands of meters, and can cruise for a long time to cover the front line, transportation arteries, and air defense positions;

Pattern:Strip SAR large-scale survey → switch to staring SAR after discovering suspected targets, and conduct long-term fixed-point high-resolution imaging;；

GMTI real-time alarm:Automatically mark mobile armored vehicle fleets, self-propelled artillery, and missile mobile launch vehicles to form dynamic battlefield heat maps, and prioritize pushing high-value targets to the fire control system.

2. Accurate target calculation: Binding of fire control coordinates ("accurate positioning")

After SAR imaging, airborne edge computing completes three basic fire control data outputs:

Accurate latitude, longitude, and elevation of target WGS84;

Real time speed and heading of moving targets, predicting the next time position;

Surrounding terrain masking and obstacle information, used for trajectory calculation and launch window calculation.

The data is directly sent to the onboard fire control computer without the need for rear transfer. The coordinate binding is compressed to 10 seconds, shortening the kill chain time;

Paired with optoelectronic fusion:SAR coarse positioning of long-range targets, electro-optical pod close in fine recognition, laser ranging, mutual coordinate correction, significantly reducing CEP errors.

3. Multi mode precise strike guidance ("hit right")

(1) SAR coordinate assisted GPS/inertial ammunition (mainstream)

SAR provides target reference coordinates, which are bound to satellite guided bombs and long-range air to ground missiles; In GPS denied environments, SAR updates coordinates in real-time to correct inertial drift, achieving high-precision strikes without satellites.

(2) Semi active SAR cooperative guidance (fighter jet+missile dual base SAR)

The fighter jet SAR continuously illuminates the target, and the missile receives the target echo to form a dual base imaging, continuously locking onto the mobile armor; Suitable for high-speed moving targets and attacks under cloud cover, compensating for the disadvantage of laser guidance being easily blocked by smoke.

(3) Anti radiation strike support

SAR accurately locates enemy radar positions and communication vehicles, while extracting radar scattering features to guide anti radiation missiles; Before striking, SAR monitors the on/off status of the enemy radar and selects the continuous on/off window of the radar to launch the attack.

4. Multi machine collaborative inspection and deployment network

Building a distributed collaborative system with multiple SAR equipped reconnaissance drones:

A SAR wide area search and distribution target coordinates, while other unmanned aerial vehicles carrying ammunition launch strikes ahead;

Multi station SAR cross positioning eliminates single platform ranging errors and resists single point electronic interference from enemy forces;

The bee colony micro SAR performs close range reconnaissance, while the large reconnaissance platform delivers firepower remotely and carries out layered killing.

5. Intelligent evaluation of strike effectiveness BDA

After striking, there is no need to lower the altitude, and SAR quickly re scans the target area:

Differential comparison of SAR images before and after, automatic identification of damaged areas;

Distinguish between "complete destruction/partial damage/target transfer";

Automatically generate evaluation briefs, and the decision-making system quickly issues replenishment or transition instructions, forming a complete closed loop of "reconnaissance strike evaluation".

3、 Typical SAR configuration scheme for integrated monitoring and control platform

1. Medium to large long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (mainstream military)

Load:Ku band lightweight airborne SAR (weighing 50-150kg), combining strip scanning, gaze imaging, and GMTI;

Matching:Optoelectronic/infrared three-axis pod, satellite high-speed data link, onboard AI processor;

Weapon adaptation:Laser guided air to ground missiles, small precision guided bombs, and anti radiation ammunition;

Typical models:Pterosaur 2/3, Rainbow 4/5, MQ-9A/B Reaper.

2. Someone has stealth attack aircraft/fighter bombers

Load:The body is equipped with stealth SAR, X-band multi-channel, and long-range detection outside the defense zone;

Purpose：Penetration reconnaissance outside the defense zone, guiding long-range cruise missiles and ammunition outside the defense zone;

Advantage:Stealth+SAR passive silent detection, not easily locked by enemy air defense radar.

3. Small and medium-sized tactical reconnaissance drones

Load:Micro lightweight SAR (10-30kg, C/X band), focusing on GMTI moving target tracking;

Scenario:Infantry frontline firepower support, counter-terrorism clearance, border patrol, striking pickup trucks, simple fortifications, and individual firepower points.