Low CSWAP Multi-Beam TCDL Antenna System

Applied Radar proposes to develop a high-gain low cost, size, power and weight (low-CSWAP) tactical common data link (TCDL) antenna for the Firescout and Predator UAVs. The improved TCDL antenna will support 6 or more nodes of high-gain full-duplex communication at 21.42 MBPS in a star network configuration with 360 degree coverage out to 110 nm slant range. In Phase 1, we will design, fabricate and test a medium-gain multi-beam antenna that can close a 21.42 MBPS UAV-Ground link out to 110 nmi and a UAV-UAV link out to 50 nmi, which is equivalent in gain to the antenna currently being used, but which supports 6 simultaneous links and has built-in electronic beam switching. In Phase 2, we design, fab and test a high-gain antenna that can close the 21.42 MBPS UAV-UAV link out to 110 nmi, including the Az/El beam switching and control, for both uplink and downlink.