ONERA unveils RAMSES-NG

During a presentation held in January, 2013 at the ONERA Salon-de-Provence Centre, ONERA unveiled a new airborne warning and surveillance system designed to fulfill a variety of needs, especially in the fields of defense and security. Known as RAMSES-NG, this new critical military means allows detection means users such as the Army to determine which radar equipment and which optical means are most likely to respond to the nature of the observed phenomenon, in order to provide the best cost-benefit ratio. RAMSES-NG thus makes it possible to combine various means in the same theater of operations and to have access to more details for more accurate information.

This system gathers imaging means that are among the most efficient (three radar sensors, X-band and UHF L respectively) in two pods (nacelles) and offers an unprecedented level of image quality. Mounted on a Mystère 20 adapted and implemented by DGA Flight Testing, these pods are equipped with a set of high-performance radar sensors and also feature advanced optronic means.

This new system is a leap forward in radar/optronics synergy: in addition to allowing the use of radar equipment and electro-optical sensors during the same flight, RAMSES-NG is a completely scalable system. Programming, control and data acquisition functions are located in the cabin of the aircraft, with six electronic bays and two dedicated operator stations. The modular and scalable design of the system also allows it to receive any new sensor or industrial model. This ability to integrate any new sensor into the pods without having to repeat the entire certification process with the authorities, makes it a literally "plug-and-play" system.

Tapping the full potential of the radar/optronics synergy to obtain the information best suited to the nature of the observed phenomenon

"To prepare and ensure future developments, it is necessary to be able to determine which combination of sensors will, depending on each case, be the most cost-effective" - said Philippe Dreuillet, RAMSES-NG Project manager at ONERA - "This is what RAMSES-NG allows, thanks to the complementarity of radar equipment and optical sensors: the optical means allow monitoring to the nearest centimeter, while the use of radar equipment allows large scale monitoring over several square kilometers. The combination of the two methods is therefore ideal for some specific operations, such as the identification of vehicles and people on the ground."

These detection and monitoring means may combine various radar or optical sensors, hyperspectral cameras, or even electronic scanning antennas. Thus, depending on whether one wishes to detect vehicles on a road or identify and track the evolution of a terrorist cell in an isolated or covered environment, different sensors or combinations of sensors are used.

Radar means offer various frequencies, depending on the phenomena to be observed. At high frequencies, they allow fine resolutions and extremely precise image qualities to be obtained, from around ten centimeters to several tens of kilometers. At lower frequencies, they offer significant canopy or underground penetration capacity. In some environments, their detection capabilities are very significant: low-frequency radar thus makes it possible to penetrate at least five meters under sand and four kilometers under ice.

RAMSES-NG: a veritable "Swiss Army Knife" of SAR radar imaging* for airborne shots

It provides the functions of the RAMSES system:

• High resolution radar for daytime/nighttime mapping in any weather
• Complete polarimetry for the classification of objects or environments
• Interferometry to produce a digital terrain model or detect changes occurred since the reference image
• Detect objects hidden under the canopy or in the ground

as well as new features, in particular change detection, for example, for the detection of improvised explosive devices.

By combining radar and optronic means, RAMSES-NG provides a high-performance tool to detect, quantify and understand terrain changes from a series of observations at different times.

"With this new system, we are now able to obtain highly accurate resolutions, ranging from ten centimeters to several tens of kilometers and, whatever the distance at which we are," added Philippe Dreuillet, "this gain in precision, together with a flexible system that combines various sensors coordinated by experienced operators, makes RAMSES-NG a sort of 'Swiss Army Knife' of detection, which points to the future civilian implementation of many military applications”