OVERVIEW:  The AN/ZPQ-1 TESAR (Tactical Endurance Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a small, light weight,   SAR radar for tactical use on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).  It operates in the NATO  J-band  (IEEE X, Ku, and K-Bands).

DETAILS: The AN/ZPQ-1 is a low-cost, ground-sweeping radar that can detect objects down to one foot in size and capable of discriminating between moving (1.5 m/s to 3.5 m/s) and stationary targets.   The radar is capable of through-the-weather surveillance, stationary and moving target detection and tracking, as well as maritime search and dismounted personnel detection.

The focused SAR imagery is formed on-board the UAV, compressed, and sent to the Predator Ground Control Station over a Ku (satellite) or C-band (LOS) data link. The radar is capable of mapping while squinting up to ±45 degrees off the velocity vector. At ground speeds from 25-35 m/sec, the swath width is 800 meters. At speeds beyond 35 m/sec, the swath width decreases proportionally with the increase in ground speed. Strip map imaging observes terrain parallel to the flight path or along a specified ground path. Resolution depends on range and swath width and can vary from 0.3 to 1.0 meters.

The radar has two SAR strip map modes and a spotlight mode. In strip map mode, the imagery is reformed and displayed in a scrolling manner on the SAR workstation displays. As the imagery is scrolling by, the operator can select 1k by 1k image patches (approximately 800m x 800m box at 15,000 AGL) for exploitation at the Predator DEMPC workstation. 


Specifications:

	Frequency:	10 - 20 GHz (NATO J-band)
	PRF:		??
	Power: 		  ?? kW (peak)
	Range:		2.4-5.3 nm (4.4 to 10.8 km) (center of strip)
	Resolution:	0.3 meters
	UAV Speed	25-80 m/sec
	UAV Altitude	6,562-24,934 ft AGL

		
NOTES:  IOC 1996. Used in the USAF UAV RQ-1 “Predator” and RQ-1 drones.  Also known as MAE UAV SAR.   ZPQ-1 is being replaced on newer UAVs with more modern radars such as the AN/APY-8 Lynx SAR and STARLite radar.


SOURCES:   "AN/ZPQ-1 (TESAR) - Radartutorial." Grundlagen Der Radartechnik. Accessed March 6, 2023. https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/08.airborne/karte049.en.html. ; "AN/ZPY-1 STARLite Small Tactical Radar - Lightweight." Northrop Grumman. Last modified December 16, 2021. https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/an-zpy-1-starlite-small-tactical-radar-lightweight/. ;"TESAR (Tactical Endurance Synthetic Aperture Radar)." Intelligence Resource Program. Accessed March 6, 2023. https://irp.fas.org/program/collect/tesar.htm.
