Compact High-Frequency Antennas

In this Phase II STTR project, the team of Pharad and the University of California, Los Angeles will build upon our successful Phase I theoretical and experimental proof-of-concept demonstrations to design, fabricate and test ruggedized antenna assemblies integrated into radio-carrying backpacks capable of supporting HF radio communications. The antennas will be based on novel technologies capable of significantly shrinking man-portable HF radiators. In the Base Effort we will rigorously model the HF antenna, fabricate several prototypes and test their RF performance, compare the performance with conventional HF antennas, theoretically investigate their SAR performance, and develop a fully integrated version of the ruggedized HF antenna within a man-pack. In the follow-on Option effort, we will facilitate the transition of our technology to the Navy fleet by undertaking full RF and environmental testing of the new HF man-pack antenna. The testing will comprise full electromagnetic measurements, a comparison with conventional HF antennas, and an experimental validation of the antenna SAR performance. In the Option we will also evaluate the environmental performance of the antenna and fabricate pre-production models for delivery to the Navy. These ruggedized HF man-pack antenna assemblies will be TRL 8 electromagnetically and environmentally compliant radiators ready for field testing.