Highly Efficient Wideband Antenna for Small Diameter Munitions

In this Phase I project Pharad proposes to create a wideband, highly efficient, conformal, omni-directional radiator that can be integrated on small, smart munitions platforms, such as missile or bomb airframes. Our antenna solution will incorporate a novel wideband printed radiating element that can operate efficiently from 200 – 1215 MHz. It will be cavity backed to ensure the antenna can reside beneath the surface of the munition's aeroshell, thereby producing minimal impact on the aerodynamics of the missile projectile. We will use wraparound procedures to control the input impedance properties of the radiator and achieve omni-directional radiation patterns. We will use rigorous full-wave analysis tools to accurately predict the performance of the antenna when mounted on the munition. As part of this Phase I effort we will also fabricate and test the performance of a prototype of our proposed wideband radiator solution. From the analytical and measured results of the created antenna, we will analyze its performance given certain connected hardware and environmental conditions. The new novel radiator technology will be key to realizing a wideband high performance antenna that can be structurally integrated on a small munitions aeroshell and support the simultaneous communication of multiple RF frequency signals.