RADAR and AIS sensors constellation for global maritime surveillance

In the frame of SAMSON study (a Feasibility study of a space-based maritime surveillance system), funded by CNES, several concepts for a dual sensor RADAR + AIS (Automatic Identification System) constellation have been addressed. One of them supported by Thales Alenia Space is described in this paper. Its interest for global maritime surveillance is discussed. The constellation performance is presented in terms of revisit time and detection probability for each sensor before data fusion processing. Instruments are described as well as the proposed satellite concept.