DERA - Dielectric Enhanced Resonator Antenna

The Dielectric Enhanced Resonator Antenna (DERA) program helps to meet critical missile defense system needs by employing dielectric resonators as a radiating element in radar antennas. Antennas based on this technology have many advantages over traditional microstrip antennas including: increased field of view, greater bandwidth, greater power efficiency, smaller size, higher power handling capability, and the potential for exhibiting radiation patterns that are well-suited to phased-array applications. This Phase II effort will demonstrate these capabilities and lead the way to integration of this technology into DOD radar systems by leveraging and advancing the technology successes developed and demonstrated in Phase I having direct application to emerging and future MDA radars for space and missile defense. DERA technology offers a low risk approach to meet today’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense radar needs, establishes a growth path to the future without requiring an entirely new radar system, and can save MDA significant investment in development and production costs for a next generation radar system.