Airborne Dynamic Flaps Electronic Scan Antenna

A major improvement in the effectiveness of Naval aircraft sensors can be obtained by upgrading of the design of the fire-control radar to include a multi-function, electronic scan, phased-array antenna; especially if a function such as runway/carrier imaging as a low-visibility landing aid could be included. Unfortunately, electronic scan antennas continue to be unaffordable except in the most expensive of (Air Force) bomber aircraft. Malibu Research has a potential way around this impasse based on a dynamic version of our proven FLAPS phased-surface antenna technique. A principal product of ours is the FLAPS phased-surface which has the capability of directing RF in specific design directions through the use of arrays of varying length shorted dipoles to generate any surface phased gradient. By dynamic variation of the dipole pattern, electronic beam scanning will result. The specific proposed means of accomplishing this is by a programmable plasma display -- similar in nature to plasma display television and laptop computers. The concept and preliminary parameters for this are given in our proposal. The key points are as follows: a) The proposed technique is a merger of two advanced but proven technologies; i.e., FLAPS and plasma display. b) The plasma display elements are highly RF conductive ionized gases. c) The resolution, speed and huge number of computer updatable display elements yields a highly dynamic, large RF size electronic antenna with multi-band capability. d) The above provides both X-band search and fire-control, and millimeter-wave imaging (for landing) and fire-control functions.