Performance Assessment of the FSRETC Algorithm for the Estimation of the Frequency Sweep Rate in Airborne FMCW SAR Systems

In recent years, airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems based on the Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology are becoming very popular thanks to their simple architecture and low cost. When FMCW SAR data are processed, it is essential to accurately know the electronic parameters of the system. In particular, the use of an incorrect value of the Frequency Sweep Rate (FSR) introduces geometric distortions in the focused images. In this work we provide the assessment of the performances of the FSRETC algorithm, recently proposed with the aim of estimating the correct FSR from the radar data. The presented analysis is conducted through the use of real data acquired by an airborne FMCW SAR system.