# Synthetic Aperture Radar **Entity class:** Active remote-sensing technology **Aliases:** SAR ## Definition **Synthetic aperture radar** is an active remote-sensing method that uses the motion of a radar antenna and coherent signal processing to produce high-resolution imagery. Because it supplies its own radio-frequency illumination, SAR can collect through darkness and many weather conditions that limit optical imaging. ## Relationships - **intelligence discipline:** [[wiki/GEOINT|GEOINT]]. - **enterprise:** [[wiki/National System for Geospatial Intelligence|National System for Geospatial Intelligence]]. - **industry venues:** [[wiki/GEOINT Symposium|GEOINT Symposium]] and [[wiki/NGA Industry Days and Technology Showcases|NGA Industry Days and Technology Showcases]]. - **collection:** [[collections/Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment|Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment]]. ## Sources / Provenance - [NASA Earthdata — What is SAR?](https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/backgrounders/what-is-sar)