System and method for aircraft altimetry and terrain profiling via forward looking active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar

A method for aircraft-based altimetry and terrain profiling, the method comprising:

• orienting an active electronically scanned array (AESA) aboard an aircraft, the AESA comprising a plurality of antenna elements, to each of a sequence of desired directions,
• wherein a steering control system is configured to electronically orient the plurality of antenna elements to the sequence of desired directions via electronic beam steering commands and to mechanically orient the plurality of antenna elements if the sequence of desired directions cannot be achieved via electronic orientation alone;
• transmitting, via the AESA, RF energy in each desired direction;
• receiving from each desired direction, via the AESA, first reflected RF energy indicative of one or more ground-based targets;
• orienting the one or more antenna elements to a ground-oriented direction;
• transmitting, via the AESA, RF energy in the ground-oriented direction;
• receiving, from the ground-oriented direction and via the AESA, second reflected RF energy indicative of at least one ground-based terrain point;
• determining, via an aircraft-based inertial sensor, a velocity and rotational orientation of the AESA;
• determining, via aircraft-based signal processors and based on a comparison of the velocity, the rotational orientation of the AESA, and the received first and second reflected RF energy:
• for each of the one or more ground-based targets:
• a pointing angle between the aircraft and the ground-based target;
• a horizontal distance between the aircraft and the ground-based target;
• and
• a vertical distance between the aircraft and the ground-based target;
• and
• an estimated altitude of the aircraft relative to the at least one terrain point.