Which SAR mode yields a continuous strip of imagery parallel to the route of flight, on either side of the aircraft?

• A. Spot SAR
• B. ISAR
• C. Strip SAR
• D. CSAR

Answer: (C)

Strip SAR creates a continuous strip of ground imagery laid out parallel to the aircraft’s flight path because the radar illuminates a fixed swath as the platform moves, building the image in azimuth to form an unbroken stripe along the track. The imaging area can be on either side of the aircraft by steering the beam left or right, giving a continuous strip on the chosen side.

Spot SAR focuses on a small area with very high resolution, so it doesn’t produce a long, uninterrupted strip. ISAR relies on motion of the target to generate the image, not the aircraft’s flight path. CSAR typically covers a wider area by sweeping across multiple swaths, rather than a single continuous strip beside the route.