Synthetic Aperture Ladar for Tactical Imaging (SALTI)

The Synthetic Aperture Ladar for Tactical Imaging (SALTI) initiative will develop and demonstrate an airborne interferometric synthetic advanced laser radar (Ladar) imager capable of producing high-resolution three-dimensional imagery at long ranges. The ultimate SALTI system will combine the long-range day/night access afforded by conventional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with the interpretability of high-resolution optical imagery and the exploitability of three-dimensional (3-D) imagery and fit within a tactical-sized package suitable for deployment on a long-range unmanned air vehicle such as the Global Hawk. The technical objective of the SALTI program is to provide a proof-of-concept for operation at tactically relevant high altitudes and at long ground ranges.