Multiband Array Radiators

Major problems associated with performance of modern military aircraft are due to the space demanded to accommodate the multitude of antennas, the weight and drag introduced by these antennas, and the electromagnetic interference (EMI) between these close-packed electromagnetic structures. The increasing necessity for additional antennas competing for space on the already heavily populated platform demands antenna solutions that will accommodate multiple functions through efficient broadband or multiband operation. Design emphasis will be placed on the thinness of the radiating element, the ability of the radiating element to function in a reconfigurable array (adjustable polarization capability), efficient operation in the bands 11, 15, 20, 30, and 44 GHz, and ease of manufacture. Multiband technology will be directed toward the ability to utilize one antenna aperture for a multitude of communication systems, greatly reducing the weight and space requirements associated with those systems. For this program Spectra Research, Inc. has teamed with Scientists from the Georgia Tech Research Institute to apply new technological antenna advances in fragmented apertures and meta-materials with new antenna design tools toward solving the challenge of designing small, multi-function antennas that reduce the space, weight, and drag demand on aircraft, while addressing the issues of intra-antenna interference.