Posted on 12/17/2017 4:52:34 AM PST by RoosterRedux
DARPA has developed a new sensor that can see through clouds, operating just as effectively as current systems do in clear weather.
The Extremely High Frequency (EHF) targeting sensor successfully demonstrated its ability to capture real-time video through clouds, marking the completion of its flight tests.
Ultimately, the Pentagon is hoping to create a system that can be mounted on different types of aircraft to capture high-resolution video of targets on the ground, regardless of the weather conditions.
The EHF targeting sensor comes from DARPA’s Video Synthetic Aperture Radar (ViSAR) program, which launched in 2013.
According to the agency, the sensor could be used to provide overhead support to ground troops.
It could ultimately be integrated with a movable gimbal for full-motion video of the target, in cloudy or clear skies.
‘The recent flight of the ViSAR sensor marked a major program milestone toward our goal, proving that we can take uninterrupted live video of targets on the ground even when flying through or above clouds,’ said Bruce Wallace, program manager in DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office.
‘The EO/IR sensors on board the test aircraft went blank whenever clouds obscured the view, but the synthetic aperture radar tracked the ground objects continuously throughout the flight.'
(Excerpt) Read more at americatoday.life ...
This technology is old...I remember discussing it at a job interview when I lived outside of DC.
Root that baby and take control (and block all of the google stuff)...
I’m still waiting on a stable Linux release for Androids ;^)
At some point, he said if he answered my question, he'd have to have me shot.
He's still working in DC.
I hear what you are saying. I worked for 24 years for a company developing the cutting edge for DOD. The stories I could tell ..... if only I wanted an extended vacation in Leavenworth.
The strike package arrives with the storm front? Pretty cool!
Can’t normal radar already see through clouds, at least to some extent?
If you want to know US military secrets, ask the Chinese. They feel no compulsion to hide information about their enemies. They only hide data to protect their sources. They have been stealing our developments for 50 years, when they can't buy it and reverse engineer.
The only enemy that always is surprised by new technology are Muslims. There is the story of the Iranians, shortly after their revolution, finding that an American built car, capsized in an accident, did not have a separate chassis. They promptly accused US auto makers of cheating third world countries. (They hadn't heard of unibody construction.)
True, but the target resolution leaves something to be desired. There is not much in the way of details. The higher the frequency of the radar, the more information possible on your picture. The trick is to have the machinery.
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