IMSAR LLC of Springville, Utah delivered its first NSP-5 ER Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to a Beechcraft King Air 200 customer in May. First introduced in September 2017, the NSP-5 ER enhances the innovative functionality of IMSAR’s NSP-5 product line into an extended range, high-resolution imager for higher and faster aircraft. The NSP-5 ER’s first flight in December 2017 proved successful, prompting IMSAR to proceed with integration of the NSP-5 ER onto the Beechcraft King Air 200.
Ivan Ashcraft, IMSAR’s lead engineer for the NSP-5 ER, said, “Integration on the King Air 200 went very well and we are pleased see our most capable radar flying on this legendary aircraft.”
Previously reserved for Group 2 and Group 3 UAVs, IMSAR increased the operating range of their low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) multi-mode NSP-5 radar. The NSP-5 ER is designed for higher-altitude operation on larger, faster manned or unmanned aircraft such as the King Air, PC-12, Caravan, and Gray Eagle. The NSP-5 ER provides these platforms with the same capabilities and low SWaP-C currently reserved for smaller UAVs at lower speeds and altitudes.
The NSP-5 ER weighs 24 pounds (10.9kg), is 58 inches (147 cm) long and consumes less than 275 watts of aircraft power. The radar has Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Coherent Change Detection (CCD), Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) and Maritime Moving Target Indicator (MMTI) modes.
Integration with the Beechcraft King Air 200 was performed by Integrated Surveillance and Defense, Inc. ISD is a US-based, Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) that specializes in airborne and ground systems engineering, logistics, and management services to both government and commercial industries.