An Investigation of a Faster High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) Aircraft Testing Techniques

A feasibility investigation is proposed for designing a HIRF aircraft test facility which reduces existing test time by at least a factor of two without comprising the HIRF requirements for aspect angle/polarization and field strengths (both average and peak). SEA proposes a hybrid TEM cell/reverberation facility which will reduce test time involved with repositioning test equipment or test objects. The proposed facility will provide acceptable HIRF environments and more complete illumination of test objects using lower power sources over broader frequency ranges than is currently available. The proposed design will be capable of being tested and demonstrated inside the Shielded Hanger, Building #144 at NAWCAD, Patuxent River, MD. The SEA proposed design uses a unique technique for driving the TEM cell septum to obtain uniform horizontal electric fields in the working volume. In addition, the design addresses the uncertainty in the transition region (TR) of the hybrid facility.