Innovative Hardware Technologies for Anti-Jam and Electromagnetic Attack Rejection in Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Radars

The proposed research will investigate the application of conductive high field emission microstructures encapsulated in a non-linear polymer binder material to develop a coatable, limiter technology for development of a Planar Metamaterial Limiter Coating (PMLC). The PMLC clamping, power handling, insertion losses, and critical performance parameters will be investigated. This research will serve as a feasibility demonstration for the insertion of the PMLC into MDA radars, communications, and GPS receiver systems. This research will form the basis for the development of a new, easily integrated category of inexpensive limiting solutions, formed by an applied coating that will act as the limiter. The PMLC will be completely passive, self-contained and heat dissipative. The PMLC brass board demonstration in this Phase I will demonstrate a high field emission distributed microstructure’s interaction with a non-linear material to provide maximal limiting of an incident HPM or UWB threat. The research will include but not be limited to: a brass board fabrication, a nanomaterials application, and a feasibility demonstration all of which are traceable to a production focused, surface coated limiter technology.