A new radar signal processing system could give radar operators, intelligence officials, and port security officers the new powerful imaging tools that they are seeking.

The S2RSP device digitally reprocesses laser-modulated radar signals stored in patented optical materials. The technology could give users constant wideband reception with extremely precise results over a large surveillance area.

S2 has developed a hardware prototype for the radar signal processor, which company researchers call the S2RSP. S2 officials expect the prototype to be tested in-house, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratories, and by the contract’s administrator, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. S2 also expects this technology to receive Technical Readiness Level 5 certification during the same period. Following tests, the company plans to design an application-specific production model before the contract expires, which is anticipated in 2009.

The company’s recent work on the device has been funded by a multimillion-dollar Missile Defense Agency (MDA) SBIR Phase III contract. MDA also funded development of the original optical memory materials on which the company relies. Those materials were developed by Scientific Materials Corporation of Bozeman, MT under an SBIR Phase II contract. FLIR Systems acquired SMC in November 2005, with S2 spinning out of SMC as a separate company. FLIR Systems continues to provide high-quality optical-memory materials to S2. Some of the prior technology was patented by researchers at Montana State University. S2 Corporation maintains exclusive licenses to these patents and also claims several trade secrets under SBIR data rights.