4-meter Class Inflatable Antenna

ABSTRACT: The technical objective of this Phase II SBIR is to develop and test a 4-meter class inflatable Satellite Communications(SATCOM) antenna terminal in Ku-band. This effort will focus on maturing the component technologies involved with radome material selection, Ku-band RF feed and feed mount design, and development of mechanical/electrical interfaces for pointing and steering, and to transition all of the components into a prototype 4-m aperture SATCOM antenna. BENEFIT: The US military has a stated requirement to pass high bandwidth communications to and from theater and regional hubs. The development of a 4-meter class inflatable SATCOM antenna will meet that need while reducing transport weight and cube by greater than 20:1 over current hard-dish hub SATCOM antennas. The GATR antenna will enable establishment of quick-entry SATCOM hubs in theater, and will enable on-site back-up and sparing capabilities that currently do not exist.