You are here

Airborne Dynamic Flaps Electronic Scan Antenna

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 27813
Amount: $300,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1997
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
26670 Agoura Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Gerald E. Pollon
 (818) 880-5494
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

A major improvement in the effectiveness of Naval aircraft sensors can be obtained by upgrading of the design of the fire-control radar to include a multi-function, electronic scan, phased-array antenna; especially if a function such as runway/carrier imaging as a low-visibility landing aid could be included. Unfortunately, electronic scan antennas continue to be unaffordable except in the most expensive of (Air Force) bomber aircraft. Malibu Research has a potential way around this impasse based on a dynamic version of our proven FLAPS phased-surface antenna technique. A principal product of ours is the FLAPS phased-surface which has the capability of directing RF in specific design directions through the use of arrays of varying length shorted dipoles to generate any surface phased gradient. By dynamic variation of the dipole pattern, electronic beam scanning will result. The specific proposed means of accomplishing this is by a programmable plasma display -- similar in nature to plasma display television and laptop computers. The concept and preliminary parameters for this are given in our proposal. The key points are as follows: a) The proposed technique is a merger of two advanced but proven technologies; i.e., FLAPS and plasma display. b) The plasma display elements are highly RF conductive ionized gases. c) The resolution, speed and huge number of computer updatable display elements yields a highly dynamic, large RF size electronic antenna with multi-band capability. d) The above provides both X-band search and fire-control, and millimeter-wave imaging (for landing) and fire-control functions.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government