Low Cost Antenna with Low-radar Cross Section for Radio Frequency (RF) Chambers

Computers and hardware simulators are currently used to test the response of on-board aircraft radars and electronic warfare (EW) systems within the confines of shielded ancehoic chambers. Histori cally, most laboratory tests of these systems have used direct injection of the simulated radar returns and/or threat signals into the receivers of the system under test. RF anechoic chamber test facilities now favor large matrices of broadband antennas (0.5-18 GHz) to dynamically simulate apparent targets locations or to generate complex RF environments. Off-the-shelf broadband antennas are expensive, lack suitable controllability for dynamic simulation, and exhibit high radar cross section (RCS). These characteristics degrade the anechoic properties of the chamber and create electromagnetic interactions with the aircraft under test. There is a requirement for the development of a low-cost broadband antenna suitable for antenna matrices or arrays required in RF anechoic chambers. SR proposes to meet this requirement by researching and synthesizing a low-cost controllable antenna for use in a large array within anechoic test chambers.