Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite specialist ICEYE announced the introduction on 2 October 2024 of Dwell Precise: a new imaging mode that adds advanced capability to ICEYE’s line of Dwell products and builds on the release of Dwell Fine in March 2024.
Dwell Precise provides a 25 cm resolution and is based on the 1200 MHz radar bandwidth announced earlier this year (currently the maximum bandwidth that commercial satellites are allowed to use).
ICEYE’s Dwell Precise combines high-quality data with high resolution and, according to the company, will make a difference when identification of smaller objects or targets is required, such as types of vehicles or military equipment, without the need for additional intelligence sources. As a SAR satellite orbits the Earth its radar signals focus on a specific area of the planet’s surface to create an image based on return data. Like other modes in the Dwell product line, Dwell Precise data is taken from a much more comprehensive range of angles, allowing it to spot objects through tree cover and foliage.
ICEYE owns and operates the world’s largest constellation of SAR satellites. It first introduced Dwell mode in May 2023 and, with the introduction of Dwell Fine in March 2024 and today’s launch of Dwell Precise, ICEYE “further underlines its commitment to constant innovation in serving private- and public-sector organisations globally with the most advanced commercial Earth observation capabilities and SAR satellite data”, the company stated.
“Dwell Precise will be the industry’s highest-fidelity 25 cm product,” John Cartwright, ICEYE’s senior vice president and head of data product, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Dwell Precise represents the culmination of the industry’s best imaging capabilities and adds significant depth to our line of Dwell products. The increased resolution will allow ICEYE’s customers to identify objects and features on the Earth’s surface with far greater clarity than was available previously, all while benefitting from the day/night all-weather imaging capabilities of SAR.”
