DAIMLER-BENZ Aerospace subsidiary Dornier has signed a co-operation agreement with the Moscow-based Kulon Research Institute to develop a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) to be integrated into Germany's Tupolev Tu-154M/OS Open Skies aircraft.
The 32-month programme is to incorporate the SAR into the aircraft for the second phase of the Open Skies programme, to be completed by mid-1999. The aircraft has been fitted with optical sensors for the first phase of the programme only.
DASA says that the radar will be able to collect ground data under all weather conditions. A ground processor can then be used to process the data into pictures with 3m resolution.
Dornier will develop the SAR with Kulon, the German company also having responsibility for integration and flight testing of the system.
Source: Flight International
