Airborne Radar Crisp Reduction Through Low-Cost Phased-Array Antenna

A truly low-cost electronic scan antenna would have a major impact on Air Force radar reliability, maintenance and performance. However, despite two decades and hundreds of millions of dollars invested in phase-shifters, MMIC and similar technologies, low-cost electronic scan remains an oxymoron. Clearly an entirely new approach is required. Malibu Research believes we have such an approach, based on the merging of two proven technologies; our FLAPS EM phased-surface technique and high resolution plasma displays. A principal product of ours for microwave/millimeter wave antennas is the FLAPS phased-surface. It utilizes arrays of varying length dipoles to control beam shape and direction. By dynamic variation of the dipole pattern electronic beam scanning will result. The specific 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. (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. The proposed effort, including a demonstration, would apply this electronic scan antenna concept to Air Force airborne radar and its impact on CRISP for present and future radar requirements.