Modular Antenna System for Tracking Satellites by adaptations of existing terminals

ABSTRACT: FIRST RF has developed a revolutionary new hybrid phased array architecture that provides two-axis beam agility not available in current hybrid antenna solutions. The hybrid solution combines mechanical pointing with electrical pointing to support communication links over a full hemisphere while maintaining a very low profile. The proposed work is targeting a SATCOM On The Move antenna design for Ka band, full duplex operations. This solution lowers the active RF module count from many thousands for a comparably performing conventional phased array to 256. The FIRST RF hybrid scan solution provides very low profile (<4 inch height), two-axis fast steering, full hemispherical coverage, very low scan loss, and extremely low RF module count. The proposed Phase II program will fabricate and test a modular piece of the full size system demonstrating the performance benefits. BENEFIT: Military aircraft require SATCOM capability to share data as it is collected or to provide secure over the horizon communications. Current solutions are either very expensive phased arrays, two-axis gimbaled reflectors with large drag, or hybrid scan solutions with improved drag but unreliable pointing agility to overcome platform dynamics. The proposed solution lowers system cost substantially, is very low profile and has fast two-axis steering agility to maintain pointing at spacecraft during platform dynamics.