Low Cost Planar Antennas for Phased Array Radars

This STTR program, Topic MDA07-T011, aims at developing an array radiator for low-cost X-band planar phased array antenna with over 50% reduction in LCC (life-cycle cost), which currently is prohibitively high. The phased array must be planar, wideband, and compatible with the fabrication process of low-power T/R modules. In Phase-I, Wang Electro-Opto Corporation (WEO), Ohio State University, and Georgia Tech (GT), technical leaders in broadband planar arrays using planar 2-dimensional (2-D) elements, investigated and compared their technologies: OSU’s Current Sheet Antenna (CSA), GT’s Fragmented Aperture (FA) array, and WEO’s Traveling-wave Array (TWA) and Integrated Antenna Phase-Shifter (IAPS). The feasibilities of these three approaches were all found to be adequate for Phase-II effort. The proposed Phase-II is a two-year program focused on a most promising CSA approach with crossfertilization from TWA. In Phase-II, a subarray panel will be developed to demonstrate potential LCC reduction and wideband wide-angle beam steering performance. The subarray panel will be extensively tested at WEO, and its compatibility with low-cost array manufacturing processes and connection to the T/R panels will be enabled. The STTR Phase-II will significantly benefit several major DoD phased-array radar programs, including RST, SPEAR, and THAAD, which are key components of MDA thrusts.