Skip to navigationSkip to content

ISAR

Inverse Synthetic Aperature Radar: A radar technique using Radar imaging to generate a two-dimensional high resolution image of a target.

It is analogous to conventional SAR except that ISAR technology utilizes the movement of the target rather than the emitter to create the synthetic aperture. ISAR radars have a significant role aboard maritime patrol aircraft to provide them with radar image of sufficient quality to allow it to be used for target recognition purposes.

In situations where other radars display only a single unidentifiable bright moving pixel, the ISAR image is often adequate to discriminate between various missiles, military aircraft, and civilian aircraft.