Low Cost Planar Antennas for Phased Array Radars

Spectra Research has teamed with Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) to employ an innovative technique that uses advanced radiator materials and methodologies, such as fragmented aperture arrays, to develop an integrated antenna array that functions as a radar antenna. Many of the design issues and tradeoffs related to phased array radars are driven by the intrinsic generation of a single transmit/receive beam from multiple T/R modules and involve virtually all of the components in the module. This program is structured to ensure that the antenna design will work in concert with the electronics and provide the required radar performance over the entire field of regard. Cost versus performance can be optimized due to the intrinsic simplicity of the fragmented aperture fabrication and straightforward backplane implementation with advanced materials (i.e. meta-materials). Fragmented array antenna elements can be distributed on a single flat surface, multiple flat surfaces pointed in separate directions or on curved surfaces. The design goal for this project is to reduce antenna size and cost while increasing reliability, efficiency, etc. The fragmented aperture implementation of these goals can be achieved on any of these surfaces.