Camcopter S-100: Schiebel and MDA Space test IMSAR’s NSP radar in western Canada

Schiebel and MDA Space report a successful test of IMSAR’s NSP radar on the Camcopter S-100. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has GMTI and MMTI functions, i.e. Ground and Maritime Moving Target Indication. The demonstration lasted one week and took place at the Foremost test range for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in western Canada.

According to the latest company press release, the NSP radar was integrated into the Camcopter S-100 faster than planned. All the radar electronics fit compactly into the antenna housing. Thanks to the integrated software, mission plans can now be loaded directly onto the S-100 platform, so radar flights can be planned and executed seamlessly.

Camcopter S-100 in simulated missions over land and sea

At distances beyond 100 nautical miles (around 185 kilometres), the fully integrated system demonstrated its performance by day and by night during the test. In addition to the IMSAR NSP radar, the S-100 carried the Wescam MX-8 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, a GPS anti-jam system and an automatic identification system (AIS), successfully completing a series of simulated land and maritime tasks.

Even in demanding weather, the system reportedly delivered high-resolution SAR images and detected and tracked moving ground targets via GMTI, according to Schiebel. The manufacturer concludes: “This performance highlights the IMSAR radar as an essential sensor that increases the platform’s effectiveness and decisively improves situational awareness in complex operational scenarios.”

Neil Hunter, Head of Global Sales at Schiebel, put it into context: “The integration of the IMSAR radar into the S-100, combined with a powerful EO/IR system, significantly enhances the platform’s surveillance and detection capabilities. It enables wide-area coverage and impressive ranges in all weather conditions.” He added: “This test impressively demonstrates the continued operational capability of the Camcopter S-100 as a versatile multi-sensor platform capable of providing real-time information for a wide range of operational scenarios, day and night.”