High Isolation Transmit and Receive Antennas for Advanced Electronic Warfare and Communications Applications

To address the U.S. Army need for a high-isolation antenna for advanced electronic warfare and communications, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new High-Isolation Transmit/Receive Antenna (HITRA) system based on an innovative broadband antenna array with an operating frequency from 20 MHz to 8 GHz, an RF quarter-wavelength filter covering bandwidths up to 8 GHz at -3 dB, and an RF high-isolation package. The HITRA system will provide high transmitted power up to 100 watts for long periods of time and operate in a broadband of 20 MHz to 8 GHz with >70 dB isolation. The novel design of a multilayer antenna and multilayer microwave foam absorbers provide wideband and isolation performance to satisfy Army requirements. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the high isolation of the HITRA system through computer analysis/simulation, construction and near-field testing of a laboratory prototype with a network analyzer, and antenna chamber testing. In Phase II we plan to develop and build a full HITRA system prototype and test it in a realistic environment to meet Army requirements.