SWALIS, KaRADOC and HOMARDS: a suite of airborne radars to support satellite earth observation missions

This communication presents the different airborne radar systems which are developed at IETR (Institut d’Électronique et des Technologies du numéRique). In close collaboration with CNES (Centre National des Études Spatiales and IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la MER), IETR has been designing airborne radar sensors to support satellite missions, both in the upstream phase and in the calibration/validation phase. These sensors are both tested and became operational with the PIMA platform, an airborne platform managed by the University of Rennes. Thus, this communication describes the SWALIS, KaRADOC and HOMARDS radars and the corresponding satellite observation missions. In our case, these missions are especially dedicated to the oceans and continental waters management. Finally, the results obtained are presented in relation to the aims of these satellite missions.