This paper introduces innovative SAR systemudconcepts for the acquisition of high resolution radar images withudwide swath coverage from spaceborne platforms. The new conceptsudrely on the combination of advanced multi-channel SAR front-endudarchitectures with novel operational modes. The architecturesuddiffer regarding their implementation complexity and it is shownudthat even a low number of channels is already well suited toudsignificantly improve the imaging performance and to overcomeudfundamental limitations inherent to classical SAR systems. Theudmore advanced concepts employ a multidimensional encoding ofudthe transmitted waveforms to further improve the performanceudand to enable a new class of hybrid SAR imaging modes that areudwell suited to satisfy hitherto incompatible user requirements forudfrequent monitoring and detailed mapping. Implementationudspecific issues will be discussed and examples demonstrate theudpotential of the new techniques for different remote sensingudapplications.
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