AN/ZPQ-1 (TESAR)
Description of the radar set, tactical-technical characteristics
Figure 1: AN/ZPQ-1 (TESAR)
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| frequency: | Ku-Band |
| pulse repetition time (PRT): | |
| pulse repetition frequency (PRF): | |
| pulsewidth (τ): | |
| receiving time: | |
| dead time: | |
| peak power: | |
| average power: | |
| instrumented range: | |
| range resolution: | 0.3 m |
| accuracy: | |
| beamwidth: | |
| hits per scan: | |
| antenna rotation: | |
| MTBCF: | >700 hrs |
| MTTR: | |
AN/ZPQ-1 (TESAR)
AN/ZPQ-1 (Tactical Endurance Synthetic Aperture Radar, TESAR) is operating in the Ku-Band, small, light, low-cost sensor for use on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), e.g. for the U.S. Air Force’s UAV RQ-1 “Predator”. It is a ground-sweeping radar that can detect objects as small as one foot in size and pick out those which are moving from those which aren't. The radar provides two SAR stripmap modes and a spotlight mode.
Performance figures include a resolution range of between 0.6 m and 1 m, strip map swath widths of between 800 m and 2.6 km, spot mode imaging areas of between 800 × 800 m to 2.6 × 2.6 km, spot resolutions of 0.3 to 3 m, and 0.1 to 3 m respectively, and an MTI minimum detection velocity of between 1.5 m/s and 3.5 m/s. The focused SAR imagery is formed on-board the Predator UAV, compressed, and sent to the Predator Ground Control Station over a Ku-Band data link.
ZPQ-1 is being replaced on newer UAVs with more modern radars such as the AN/APY-8 Lynx SAR and STARLite radar.