Compact, Broadband, Efficient and High Power Transmit Antenna for Airborne Electronic Attack Platforms

Since the final third of the 20th century, Navys airborne electronic attack (AEA) capabilities have grown to serve a unique and critical role in protecting our militarys spectral dominance. However, in the nearly 50 years since the first AEA payloads were deployed, few substantive modifications have been made to the original system hardware or design, leaving the current fleet of AEA systems in increasingly urgent need of modernization. This obsolescence is compounded by the persistent increase in both the sophistication and the capability of our enemies RF systems. In order for Navys AEA fleet to provide another half century of effective service, significant updates are required to enhance the performance and integration of next-generation AEA payloads.FIRST RF proposes a novel AEA antenna architecture adapted from proven (TRL-9) FIRST RF technologies that are specifically tailored to meet all of the performance and integration challenges associated with next-generation AEA systems. This background provides a uniquely low-risk path to meeting the objectives of the proposed Phase I program.