US Air Force tests synthetic-aperture radar for bomb damage assessment in test
Garrett Reim January 2021
The US Air Force (USAF) tested the use of synthetic aperture radar for bomb damage assessment on 15 December 2020 at Nellis AFB in Nevada.
As part of the test, two Boeing F-15Es dropped an undisclosed number of live Joint Direct Attack Munitions on targets, while other aircraft used synthetic aperture radar mapping equipment to evaluate if the bombs hit and destroyed the targets. The aircraft assessing the battle damage with synthetic aperture radar included an undisclosed number of F-15Es, Lockheed Martin F-35s, Boeing F/A-18E/Fs, a Northrop Grumman RQ-4, a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 and Lockheed Martin U-2.
Before and after of a bombed target for synthetic aperture radar for bomb damage assessment c USAF
Source: US Air Force
Before and after: the USAF assessed damage to this target using synthetic aperture radar
Bomb damage assessment is typically done using short-range optical sensors carried by aircraft flying nearby targets, or by ground reconnaissance teams within visual range. However, in well-defended airspace – so-called anti-access/area-denial situations – it may be impossible to assess targets using such means. That’s especially the case against sophisticated foes such as China or Russia.
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-air-force-assesses-bomb-damage-using-synthetic-aperture-radar-in-test/141811.article
