V/W Band Airborne Radomes

ABSTRACT: Next generation satellite communications must address the issue of congested radio frequency (RF) airspace and the need to transmit dramatically larger quantities of data at very high data rates. A solution is to transmit and receive at higher frequencies in the V-and W-bands. Specifically, the Air Force has identified a receive band at 71 76 GHz, and transmit band at 81 86 GHz. Rock West Solutions is developing a class of tuning layers that can be added to the inner surface of solid laminate radomes or to sandwich radomes to achieve improved transmission over a broader range of frequencies and a wider range of angles of incidence. The concept can be applied to both new and retrofit radome designs. BENEFIT: Improved communications can be achieved both in data rate and quantity by transmitting/receiving at higher frequency bands. Traditional A- and C-Sandwich radomes often have high insertion losses over portions of the available high frequency bands limiting the benefits of using them. The challenge becomes more acute when the antenna rays intersect the radome at high angles of incidence. Rock West Solution"s specially designed tuning layers, when added to the radome inner surface, increase both the frequency bandwidth and angles of incidence over which low transmission loss are maintained enabling effective communications. The tuning layers provide an added benefit of relaxed tolerances on the material properties of the other layers comprising the radome. The concept can be applied to both new and retrofit radome designs.