Wideband Conformal Array for Wing Store (1000-347)

SI2 will design, optimize, build, and test a high power, wideband antenna system for integration into an underwing pod. The full required operating frequency band will be divided into lower and upper frequency ranges, and a separate antenna aperture will be designed and manufactured for each. SI2 will use our proven tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA) technology in vertical card configuration to design and model a scanable phased array that meets all upper band antenna requirements. These requirements include gain, ERP, power, and multiple polarizations. SI2 will use a more conventional radiating element to design a lower frequency range aperture meeting all requirements. The designs will be iterated and optimized for performance within the given volume constraints. Interactions between the lower and upper frequency range apertures will be predicted and used to modify the aperture designs as needed. In the Base program, breadboard demonstrators will be built, partially populated with a fixed beam feed network, and tested at full power. In the Option, the antennas will be fully populated, integrated into a representative pod form factor and tested with fixed beam forming.