Ship-borne 3D ISAR Imaging

Interest in three-dimensional (3D) radar imaging of non-cooperative targets is growing fast. Recent results have clearly shown that there is a significant improvement with respect to traditional two-dimensional radar imaging as it provides the means to produce accurate and robust target classification and recognition. Moreover, more recently, various demonstrators have been built to produce valid evidence of the technology feasibility and advancement in terms of technology readiness level (TRL). This paper shows results relative to the development of a ship-borne dual-mode radar system, able to switch between standard surveillance mode and 2D/3D InISAR mode upon user request. This system may potentially enhance the surveillence capabilities of ships by enabling not only detection, but also imaging and recognition of non-cooperative targets. This paper presents both the theoretical aspects related to the 3D ISAR image formation, specifically for the ship-borne case, and experimental validation results, obtained by collecting data with the system demonstrator. As the system demonstrator has not yet been installed on a ship, the results will be limited to the case of a ground-based-equivalent installation. The system’s ability to generate 3D radar images of moving surface targets is demonstrated by applying the developed algorithms to data collected in a relevant scenario with targets of opportunity.