Permanent Elastomeric Radar Array Cover

In this Phase II project Akita Innovations will advance our Phase I design and materials selection/testing for a permanent, removable/repairable, and elastomeric protective cover for AN/SPY-1 radar arrays. The cover will use an elastomer and reinforcing material that are highly transparent to RF in the 2 - 4 GHz frequency range and above. The cover will be fabricated by a method that does not require an oven and is compatible with making large (14' or larger) items, and it will be flexible so that it can be rolled up for transportation and storage. The cover will be installed by stretching it over the radar array, and the seal at the edges will be provided by both friction (the cover will have a well-defined lip to secure itself over the array) and a bead of applied adhesive/sealant that will only be present around the edges of the array. The cover will be designed to be water-repellent (intrinsically so and with the option of a hydrophobic coating to boost water repellence) and resistant to cuts, punctures, and tears from impact of hail or objects. It will also use materials chosen for minimal water absorption since water attenuates RF energy, and to prevent seawater from penetrating onto or into the radar array. One object of the Phase II work will be to determine how thick the cover can be made to provide maximum mechanical protection without losing too much RF transparency via RF testing, modelling, and analysis. A second object of the Phase II work will be to downselect from several candidate materials identified in Phase I for the elastomer and the reinforcing material to see which provide the best RF and environmental properties and the best mechanical properties and easiest fabrication (though RF properties will be the most important). A third object of the Phase II work will be to trial fabrication methods for the covers at both reduced and full scale and prepare samples adequate for further RF, mechanical, and operational testing. We will also acquire any additional necessary clearances necessary for Phase II and beyond work. The result of the Phase II effort will be additional data and processes for fabricating full scale covers that will be documented in reports and a prototype that will be delivered to the Navy for evaluation.  This data, development, and refined prototypes will ensure that the technology has a path to a manufacturable, seaworthy hardened system.  We will also produce a plan for transition of the technology to Navy use via Phase III efforts.