Rotary-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) provider Schiebel, in collaboration with MDA Space, has successfully demonstrated an IMSAR NSP synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mounted on one of its Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial vehicles, Schiebel announced on 10 December 2024.
The successful integration of the IMSAR NSP radar to the Camcopter S-100 was completed ahead of schedule, with all radar electronics housed within the antenna pod, according to Schiebel, which added that the radar’s installed software allows for seamless mission planning, enabling the operator to upload radar flight plans directly to the S-100 platform.
During the one-week intensive trial, which took place at the Foremost UAS Test Range in Western Canada, the fully integrated system showcased its unique ground and maritime moving-target indication (GMTI/MMTI) capabilities during both day and night operations out to ranges exceeding 100 n miles (185 km). The S-100, equipped with the IMSAR NSP radar, Wescam’s MX-8 electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) sensor, a GPS anti-jam system and an Automatic Identification System (AIS), successfully conducted a series of simulated land and maritime tasks, Schiebel noted. The system provided high-resolution SAR imagery, as well as GMTI detections and tracks, while also demonstrating its versatility in challenging weather conditions.
“The integration of IMSAR’s radar with the S-100, in combination with a powerful EO/IR, significantly expands the platform’s surveillance and detection capabilities, allowing for wide-area coverage at impressive distances in all weather conditions,” Neil Hunter, head of global sales for Schiebel, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “This trial underlines the continuing operational effectiveness of the Camcopter S-100 as a multi-sensor platform, capable of delivering actionable intelligence in real time, day and night.”
