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The CSIR and Space Commercial Services Holdings Aerospace Group (SCSH) have entered into an agreement to combine expertise in designing and developing wide-area maritime synthetic aperture radar (SAR).  The new offerings will be cost effective, light weight and deliver high value imagery for customers of the small satellite market.  The South African-developed small satellite SAR will enable global stakeholders and partners to have strategic independence through full access and control to the data and information products. 
This type of radar is unique in that it provides all-weather, day and night strategic information for maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, resource and disaster management.  The processed images enable planning, resource allocation and management for the ocean economy.

The CSIR will be contributing to the collaboration its expertise in radar research and development, including airborne SAR systems, modelling and simulation, processing algorithms and techniques as well as systems and sub-systems. As a core capability of the CSIR, the knowledge base and experience in these fields are at world-class levels and have led to successful international research and development partnerships and product development.

The focus for SCSH shall be contributing expertise in design and development of high-performance satellites and payloads, related sub-systems, support, and ground applications, including space-borne electro-optical, SAR and communication satellites. SCSH’s in-house teams will perform the design, modelling, manufacture, commissioning, operating and decommissioning of earth observation platforms and sub-systems.

Based in the Western Cape, SCSH is recognised as a leading player in advanced space technologies and follows a systems engineering approach for development, implementation and procurement support in satellite technology programmes. 

The CSIR has been active in radar systems since its earliest use in South Africa as part of World War II campaigns. Research domains include space-borne, airborne and surface-based radar sensor technology development for strategic and persistent wide-area surveillance, radar cross section (RCS) determination, threat warning and target identification.

The radar and electronic warfare group has international partnerships and contracts for the development and supply of specialised radar and electronic warfare measurement, testing and evaluation as well as modelling and simulation facilities.

Issued jointly by the CSIR and SCSH