CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES OF THE MOSCOW RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INSTRUMENT ENGINEERING

 

Operation in a wide band of radio waves (wave lengths range from 4 cm to 2.5 m) makes it possible to carry out radar surveys day and night in any weather and get information about objects hidden by smoke, fog, snow, foliage or soil.

Since 1960 the Institute has been developing airborne ground surveillance radars (BKR-1 for the Su-24MR aircraft) and spaceborne radars (Mech-K and ECOR for the Cosmos-1870 and Almaz satellites). 

The all-weather four-frequency polarimetric ground surveillance and digital signal processing synthetic aperture radar developed at the Moscow Research Institute of Instrument Engineering and successfully tested on the Tu-134A laboratory-airplane has no equal in Russia and abroad. 
 

1. Radar picture of the ice field in the Barents Sea

2. Radar picture of ice cover and locations of ships in the area of Dvina Bay

  
Operation in a wide band of radio waves (wave lengths range from 4 cm to 2.5 m) makes it possible to carry out radar surveys day and night in any weather and get information about objects hidden by smoke, fog, snow, foliage or soil. 

The implementation of digital synthesis of the antenna's artificial aperture on all wave lengths makes it possible to get the required information with a high degree of spacial resolution which is independent of the flight altitude or target range in the zone of coverage. 

The wide terrain coverage determines the high efficiency of the radar survey and, consequently, the low cost of information per 1 km2. For example, if the terrain coverage is 24 km, the area of 14,400 km2 is mapped by an aircraft flying at a speed of 600 km/h for one hour. 

In recent years, the Institute has developed the IMARK multifrequency polarimetric airborne radar system. 
 
Using this system, geologists can do the following: 
– surface and subsurface geological mapping of various rocks, folds and discontinuous formations; 
– prospecting of mineral resources, including diamond-bearing formations (kimberlite pipes), as well as oil- and gas-bearing formations; 
– survey of ground relief, including its buried forms; 
– subsurface hydro-geological mapping, including aquifers, fresh and mineralized water lenses. The equipment is capable of detecting underground water lenses in desert areas at depths of 50 to 70 m; 
– monitoring of hydrological and hydro-geological dynamics, including tracking of underground water migration routes; exposure of ground water rise areas, underground water effluents and resultant ecological contamination (underground transfers of oil, heavy metals, radio nuclides, etc.). It refers particularly to areas around major cities and industrial centers where grievous ecological disorders associated with human activities take place. 

The system can measure ground water depth through various growth (canes, bushes, forests) with an accuracy of up to 0.5 m to a depth of 2.5 to 3.0 m. 
 

3. The Water area at the Chech Bay of the Barents Sea

 
Oceanologists use the IMARK system in the following applications: 
– detection of surface films and other contaminants; 
– assessment of the condition of ice cover and its seasonal movement, including detection of fractures, unfrozen patches of water in the midst of ice, fresh ice areas, unfrozen water areas, and locations of ships. Fig. 1 shows a radar picture of the ice field in the Barents Sea with a ship that got stuck fast in the ice. The ice fields and their hummocking areas are well seen. Fig. 2 gives the radar picture of the ice cover and locations of ships in the area of the Dvina Bay. An ice breaker leads a convoy of four ships (23 cm waveband); 
– discovery of ocean areas with rich marine life and possible concentrations of fish schools; detection of fish schools in the surface layer of the sea and guidance of fishing boats to them. 

Operation of the IMARK system over the sea permits one to monitor water streams with different temperature, salt content and degree of contamination, as well as watch storm zones and sea disturbance. 

Fig. 3 shows the radar picture of the water area at the Chech Bay of the Barents Sea and the adjoining coastal area obtained simultaneously in the 4 cm (a), 68 cm (b) and 2.5 m (c) wave bands. The pictures obtained in the 68 cm and 2.5 m wave bands show water areas with various salt content and sea disturbance. 

The IMARK system can be used to compile a detailed land evaluation cadaster. This can be seen in Fig. 4. 
Additionally, the equipment provides for: 
– mapping and monitoring of forests; 
– discovery of vegetation disorders; 
– survey of agricultural lands. The radar picture of the agricultural lands obtained in the 4 cm wave band and shown in Fig. 4 (the area in the vicinity of Angarsk) clearly identifies areas with different vegetation, ravines, damped and swamped areas, engineering structures; 
– estimation of water content in soil; 
– pollution monitoring; 
– remote area mapping. Fig. 5 shows high–precision survey of power transmission lines and other engineering structures in the Irkutsk – Ulan-Ude area. 
 

4. The area in the vincinity of Angarsk

5. High-precision survey of Uan-Ude area

  
The IMARK system is fitted with a satellite ground positioning system (GPS) designed to pilot the aircraft both day and night in any weather with the display of the planned and current paths on an auxiliary indicator located at the pilot's (navigator's) seat. Simultaneously, the present position of the carrier–aircraft is recorded with an accuracy of +30 m. 

In emergency situations, the IMARK system can do the following: 
– map destruction, flooding and other disaster areas under no visibility conditions (fires, smoke, bad weather). 

For instance, in Chernobyl the radar survey of the disaster–affected area was made from the Su–24MR aircraft; 
– monitor ice condition, detect fractures, patches of unfrozen water, fresh ice areas, open water areas and locations of ships; 
– map contaminated water surface areas (detect surface films and chemical contamination); 
– detect objects or their fragments, particularly metallic, covered with ice, vegetation or soil, including those in mountainous areas. At the survey altitude of up to 8 km, the required resolution is retained in a 24 km coverage zone; 
– display information promptly on board the aircraft and transmit it over a down link to a central or local control point. 

Under international agreements the IMARK system may be used in UN programs for clearing mines in the territories of third countries, as well in UN programs for supervising the observance of the Treaty on 

Non–Proliferation of Mass Destruction Weapons and other types of weapons, including: 
– stealthy and camouflaged targets; 
– permanent underground emplacements, service and cable lines; 
– locations of mine fields; 
– abnormalities of sea surfaces (including traces of abnormalities of various origins). 

Under international agreements and in the interests of each separate country, the IMARK system provides for prompt monitoring of an economic zone and elaboration of methods of protection of defense, economic and ecological information from modern means of radar reconnaissance. It also estimates their efficiency. 

We invite companies and private individuals to cooperate in carrying out upgrades of the IMARK system and in its operation. The IMARK system or its components may be installed on a wide range of aircraft for worldwide operation.