Multi-Channel Wideband Antenna Array Manifolds

UAS collision avoidance and cooperative navigation is a subject of intense research and development, particularly as UAS play a growing role in current and future engagements. The purpose of this Phase I program was to explore high performance yet affordable radar apertures and exciter/receiver systems as part of a collision avoidance Sense and Avoid (SAA) radar for the Firescout UAS. High-performance, affordable array technology at moderate quantities has been a traditional challenge to the antenna design community; however, this is an area of strength for FIRST RF. Our years of experience in manufacturing affordable hardware for mission-critical applications while adapting to evolving requirements equips us to meet this array design challenge. Overall, the Phase I program was extremely successful, with hardware designs of the arrays as well as a full systems design of the entire aperture as the result. Phase I resulted in a full systems design of the antenna, beamforming, RF electronics, thermal and mechanical design, digital receiver and exciter (DREX) design, and calibration approach. The radar relies on FIRST RF"s affordable array technology. Phase II is expected to culminate with TRL 5 hardware used for demonstration aboard an asset of Navy"s choice.